World Baseball Classic 16: Everything Thread (FINALS)

[Secristan]

SCHUSTER MAKES GUARANTEE

As the build up for World Baseball Classic 16 continues and fans wonder how the Millionaires will fare, 19-year old Brian Schuster let the world know exactly how he felt the team will do. “We’re gonna beat Sarzonia twice!” the centerfielder declared, “We’re gonna win this group, and have the best run that a Secristani team has had since ten when we made it to the finals.” Schuster was given a chance to retract the statement, given that it was a very brash boast considering the Stars have had nothing but success against the Millionaires in the Classic, but Schuster would have none of it, and then told us that we better put it in writing so the whole world can see his promise. So there it is Sarzonia, enjoy the bulletin board material. Schuster provides even more of it, with more anti-Sarzonia comments, “I’m just so sick of them, they’ve beaten us enough and now we are gonna reverse the tables on them. I respect none of them and I don’t really care what they think.” Even though he seemed to have gone far enough, Schuster continued providing material for other teams. “Some country wants us to call them the Allumunic States or some shit but screw that. They’re just a bunch of stupid fanboyists. And Newmanistan, they aren’t in our group but who cares. What a bunch of whiny little bitches that team is. They go storming out of the World Cup, make Cassadagans take hold of World Bowl leadership, and then suddenly come back for this? I don’t care if they are good, they are also whiny bitches. And as for Cassadaigua I’m sick of reading happy-go-lucky team blogs. One of these days they need a blogger who can truly speak her mind.” After this bombshell, we asked Schuster if there was anyone he actually respected. After thinking for a second, he told us, “Zwangzug. They just shut up and play.”

Schuster was seen after making these comments with Jessica Carner, the 18-year old daughter of SDOS spokeswoman Shannon Carner, and they seemed to be enjoying each others company, making us wonder if the SDOS put him up to these comments in a drive for better ratings when the Classic starts.

[Newmanistan]

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Pocono City- Ever since Emperor Michael IV was confronted by the spirits of the Proving Grounds, and the ghost of his deceased sister, Empress Jessica I, Newmanistan has not participated in any international sporting events. Legend has it that the Empress had consulted with deceased Dancougaran leadership up above, and that they were insulted that Newmanistan could still display the Bird on Skates Trophy even after the tragedy that occurred with our longtime rival and friends. The Empress threatened that Newmanistan could suffer the same fate as Dancougar if the Emperor did not make a sacrifice. The Spirits of the Proving Grounds delivered the message, and the sacrifice would be that Newmanistan no longer participated in international sports, and the Bird on Skates Trophy would have to be given up to the Spirits. The Emperor agreed, and the Trophy magically disappeared.

Since then, Newmanistanians have felt the price of this sacrifice, by no longer being able to watch the Empire compete in international events. A World Bowl has come and gone, the very tournament that played its first ever title game at the Proving Grounds. Qualifying for the next World Cup is well under way, and other sports will be contested with the Newmanistanian sky blue presence. Despair and suffering all throughout the Empire. Who were the Newmanistanians to root for in these competitions? Neighboring Secristan? Perhaps a few adopted the Millionaires, but for the most part, the average Newmanistanian could never find him or herself rooting for them. Cassadaigua? Well, they are certainly a lot more likeable then the Secristanis, but still our fans wanted more. The Babbage Islands? Yeah, we’ve always gotten along with them. How about non-One Big Island nations such as Sarzonia or Qazox? Could they draw the support? Perhaps some fans adopted those teams. The fact is, Newmanistanians are still watching these competitions and still yearn for to root for someone. Many probably would be rooting for Dancougar, if there still was one. Go to bars throughout the Empire and you will see clusters of fans rooting for a variety of different nations, with the exception of Taeshan. We still haven’t been able to find anyone wishing to support the nation that we dominated in everything, just about.

No one knows exactly what persuaded the Emperor to bring back the Rockets for World Baseball Classic 16. To date, we have no idea if he has the blessing of Empress Jessica and the late King Daniel of Dancougar, who allegedly conspired to have the Empire no longer participate. If they do not have the blessing, is Newmanistan risking the complete elimination of the Empire in the manner that we lost Dancougar? Most people we speak to feel that this is not the case, that the vicious storm that wiped off the Kingdom was something that could never happen here. Others will tell you that if the Emperor did have the support of the late Empress and the Spirits, that he would not reveal it. Fans are trying not to worry, because once again they can root for their team, their country, and not feel that they have to support another nation. The Rockets are back, though we are told only for baseball, though there are rumors now that the team might even be back to the hardwood in the upcoming International Basketball Championships, which will be contested in Secristan. The Emperor was quick to say that this did not mean that Newmanistan was going to slowly return to other competitions, but we have to do baseball. This is our sport, Newmanistan is the most accomplished nation in the history of the tournament, having been to the finals seven times, winning it thrice. This is not something we can just leave easily, and we won’t. And we believe that the Empress and King Daniel agree. Perhaps there were more behind the scenes bartering that went on, since the International Basketball Championships were a Dancougaran treasure. To put it simply, perhaps there is a deal, one in which Emperor Michael IV is well aware of that, that the Rockets would be able to play baseball if they also respected the efforts to return the IBC.

It’s hard to think about anything else, really. We can sit here and report upon the team, which is very similar to the one that won the WBC 15 championships. We can talk about the great nation of Quintessence of Dust, and our friends from Tarrentum, who agreed to carry on the legacy of the Keisler Cup. We can analyze the group and discuss the irony of having opponents with a “2" and a “3" in their nation’s name all while pondering how quickly the players will spend off their $3000 debit card from MercantileBancshares Group. 19-year old punk outfielders from across the Penthoria don't bother us much right now, either. But all of that is a moot point. We are the Rockets. We will do well. Likely very, very well. But above all, we’re back!

[Cassadaigua]

Jennifer’s Space

I’m Jennifer Branston, again blogging, and it is time for another year of exciting World Baseball Classic action, and we are looking forward to this opportunity to get back where we were during number fourteen, which was as champions of the world! That was a great moment of time in national history as it saw us hold the baseball, soccer, hockey, and football trophies all simultaneously. Ahh, what a great period it was. Things are still going very well, and I like our chances of winning a championship this year. As you know, we lost a lot of people between Classics fourteen and fifteen and still put up quite a fight. We don’t have the kind of drastic turnover for this classic, but it does exist. The main difference that you will see comes in our batting lineup, as three spots are taken over by new faces. One would be the DH as Meaghan Billington, who can completely smoke the ball as we know (but the world doesn’t), gets the spot, and she will hit 9th. Having that kind of bat at the bottom shows the strength of our lineup and how we will not be fun to pitch against. The other two newcomers to the lineup are both in the infield with Julie Poulin at first and Kiersten Murphy at second. Both of them, as well as Billington, appeared in some games of the last Classic off the bench, and now they are regular starters. The bench now sees three more graduates from Keisler Cup teams pick up spots. That is really a great tournament, that Keisler Cup, in how it prepares players for the daily grind of the World Baseball Classic if they make the senior team. The pitching staff has also seen two departures, one being Julie Therrian. We insert into the rotation two pitchers who served as long relievers on our last rotation, and that’s perfectly fine because they are starters at home, as we know. Sarah Cerutti and Rachel Friedman are ready to show the world what they can do as a starter for sure. The bullpen, like the bench, inherits a couple of Keisler Cup graduates in the form of Shannon Jacobs and Stacey Schrager. It really is a well-put together, and I really do believe we can win this title. Secristan’s Brian Schuster commented that Cassadagan bloggers are too “Happy go lucky” and need to tell it like it is. Brian, I am afraid I am telling it exactly how it is.

That Schuster, what a piece of work, huh? Well, I guess he’s just being a Secristani and in cahoots with the Secristan Department of Sports to try and get ratings for their pay-per-view games. I think most of the world just laughed at his boasts, really. Elsewhere, I can’t believe that Johnny Stryker is still 27. That just amazing how the man doesn’t age. Also, it is really good to see Newmanistan back even though things would be easier in the Classic if they weren’t. I think anyone with the competitive drive wants to beat the champions, or to win a championship with them in the field, and not to win a championship with a team like that not in the field and then have people second guessing you. I hope that made sense and you understood what I was getting at! In our group, we will play Milkymama, Lycrabon (think: Barnettsville), Teinohikira, Bergnovinaia, Cosumar, Gracelona, and Conservants. Milchama will be the biggest threat on paper, and we’ll see if they still don’t know how to spell the name of our nation. All they need to do is look at the list of World Cup Champions. A little something we’ve been doing while they settle for the Cup of Harmony. Lycrabon, if they have their Barnettsville form, may actually end up being the biggest challenger, though. Still, we’re the class of this group, and that’s the Yuppers Foodbrands Group, by the way. I had my first bowl of Yup-Start cereal this morning. And you know what? It was pretty good! Yuppers, indeed!

[Tarrentum]

World Baseball Classic 16 Preview

"Thank you everyone from tuning into this first installment in our World Baseball Classic 16 television series. I'm Rodric Fiani and today on TSPNN we are going to look into the the preparation for the games that are being brought to the world by The Allied States of Tarrentum and The Democratic States of Quintessence of Dust."
The images on the screen flash between the different participating countries' flags with the new Candi Destani song playing in the background.
"Today we'll be focusing exclusively on Tarrentum's preparations and outlook for the Classic. It's all the more amazing seeing that Tarrentum, only a year into International Play, won the joint hosting bid for the Classic to begin with. Yet most people, including International Baseball League Commissioner Nicholas Ozzarella, see it only as a change in the times. 'We can't always think that nations such as Newmanistan, Tocrowkia, Cassadaigua, and Zwangzug will dominate the world of baseball. After our amazing run in the last WBC, our first I might add, I think we showed a lot of established countries that we can handle our own.' "
[Fiani:]"And what a run it was in last year's Classic."

Highlights begin to roll from World Baseball Classic 15 games involving Tarrentum.

Game 1: Tarrentum vs. Kalasion
"...Utteroni back into the box. The pitcher sets, the swing...It's a high fly ball deep to right field, going, GOING, GONE! Utteroni hits the first international homerun for the Tarrentum Falcons!"
Game 2: Zwangzug vs. Tarrentum
"...looking more and more downhill for the Zebras. Cordemoy has loaded the bases with that walk to Ferdini Zappataro with two outs here in the bottom of the eighth. Nicolai Rioi is up and he's already driven in a run on one hit...Rioi swings and misses for strike two on a pitch that just dropped off the shelf. Cordemoy sets…delivers…good contact by Rioi, that ball is HIGH AND DEEP….GONE!!!!! A GRAND SLAM!!! The stadium is shaking as these Tarrentians erupt in celebration!!!”
Game 4: Barnettsville vs. Tarrentum
“…Vallena facing two outs in the top of the seventh with Rioi on first. This game is looking more and more like a failed attempt by the Tarrentian team. The windup and the pitch…good contact by Vallena and…IT’S OVER THE CENTERFIELDER’S GLOVE after a wicked bounce off the wall where he was going to play it…Vallena around first and Rioi rounding third…the ball rolling deep into outfield where the rightfielder wasn’t expecting it at all. Rioi scores! Vallena coming up to third and SHE’S HEADED HOME…the throw from the outfield, corralled by the catcher and…VALLENA BOWLS INTO THE CATCHER AND THE BALL IS LOOSE!!! Vallena with an inside-the-park homerun!!!”
Game 6: Kalasion vs. Tarrentum
Numbers appear in the bottom left-hand corner denoting the number of strikeouts.
“…Jacobo winds…swing and a miss… [1]
…The delivery…strike three called looking [2]
…Swing and a miss, totally out in front of that pitch. [3]
…on the corner, strike three. [4]
…Swing and a miss and he’s out! [5]
…Winds and throws…HE OUT! [6]
…Caught looking, strike three! [7]
…Fans on the third pitch for a strike out. [8]
…Gone on three pitches. [9]
…aaannnddd Jacobo’s tenth strikeout! [10]
…Caught looking at the knucklecurve. [11]
…What a display! His twelfth strikeout! [12]”
Play-in Game 1: Mantwenic vs. Tarrentum
“…1-2 with one out. Vallena on third, Ionian looking for a good hit to tie up the game. The pitch and…IT’S OUTTA HERE! No need to think about this one as it is crushed into the left field bleachers! Ionian standing and looking at that work of art!

[Fiani:] “After the Falcons took the Sarzonia Stars to the wire in the first round of the playoffs they moved on to their upcoming role in the 2nd Keisler Cup. There the Falcons fielded both U-21 and U-16 teams. The U-21 team was bolstered by National Team pitcher Fironte Sareb as their number one starter. The younger teams found great success and proved to the international community that Tarrentum Baseball will be a growing force. The U-21 team met old foe Quintessence of Dust in the final series and dropped it three games to one but the U-16 team, led by Gemma Itala and her tournament leading 7 home runs, took on powerhouse Cassadaigua and took them down in four games.”
“Tarrentum then set up their bid for the 16th World Baseball Classic by hosting their own international tournament – the Tarrentian International Baseball Round Robin Tournament. The TIBRRT got most participants from the smaller-name nations of the world but did get some international-renowned squads to participate. The TIBRRT was a success and clearly the nation was headed towards the top of the baseball community.”
“When we return, a look at infrastructure preparations that have been going on around the nation for the World Baseball Classic playoffs.”

McSquiggie’s commercial, MercantileBancshares commercial, a TSPNN promotional commercial for their upcoming coverage of the TQCC, BergBucks commercial

“Rodric Fiani here for TSPNN and we are looking at what the infrastructure challenges and changes are going on around Tarrentum for the upcoming World Baseball Classic 16 Playoffs.

Footage of multiple construction sites around the nation related to WBC 16.

The WBC brings in millions of dollars to the host nation (or nations in this case) from the amount of fans and tourists who travel to the games. Very much like the World Cup, but on a much smaller scale, the Classic is a way for a nation to promote itself to the world. Here in Tarrentum the businesses fully understand the huge economic impact a good tournament can have.
[Varrance Uralla, CEO of MegOil Holdings:] “Right now, at this juncture in the Tarrentian economy, a source of outside money like the World Baseball Classic will be a big boost for everyone. Not only is MegOil sponsoring one of the groups, we are busy building four new Mega-MegOil stations with a 15-stone [mile] radius of each playoff stadium.”
[Fiani:] “Not only is MegOil building gas stations as an added convenience to be kept open for local communities after the Classic but MegOil is also donating all gas needed for player shuttles to and from the new Callista Heights Village…”

Footage of partially completed apartment buildings and dining fronts.

[Hielo Garriti, Site Manager, Justi Construction:] “We see this as a great opportunity to give back to Tarrentum. We are building the face of Tarrentum to ball players across the world that will be coming here. Most of us understand the importance of getting all of this,” he sweeps his hand back behind him at the construction going on, “done on time.”
[Fiani:] “The time table is the most crucial part of the whole infrastructure enterprise. While the Village is partially completed Garriti and Justi Construction are very confident that they will have everything in place.”
[Garriti:] “Oh, we’ll be fine. We’re done with all heavy loads and the landscapers are coming in tomorrow to lay down sod. It’s mostly interior work and I’ve got a whole army of plumbers, electricians and carpenters ready to descend on this work site. Plus, I think that the boys will finish up with the food areas soon but then it’s up to PhastPizza, McSquiggie’s and the like to get it done on time.”

The camera fades back to Fiani as Garriti gives a typical Tarrentian shrug.

[Fiani:] “McSquiggie’s recently made a deal with the international coffee giant BergBucks, Incorporated to set up BergBucks kiosks throughout new McSquiggie’s restaurants being set up around the playoff venues. While McSquiggie’s declined and interview, they released a brief statement. ‘The combination of flavorful BergBucks coffee along with the unbeatable quality of McSquiggie’s meals will provide a boost to the company. All of our construction is proceeding accordingly and the community will be left with quality workplaces after the 16th World Baseball Classic is finished.’”
“Some of the playoff venues themselves are getting a facelift. While the official listing of venues will be released later on in the Classic, renovations had begun on Imperium Stadium at the beginning of the IBL’s offseason and, with the IBL Opening Day approaching, the stadium may have a surprise Grand Opening for the World Baseball Classic Playoffs. There have also been crews working on building semi-permanent seating at Griffon’s Stadium on the campus of Napole National University. A quick look at other stadium’s in Tarrentum show regular maintenance but roads leading into Napoliroma, Krozuy, Napole, Apolln City and Casslaha are being expanded at a frentic pace.”

“As we wrap-up this short preview we want to focus on the good that will come out of these games. Tarrentum is growing by leaps and bounds so this tournament will help continue the economic climb in the country. While the police will always be ready to handle anything during the Classic, the presence should not be too overwhelming to tourists that they couldn’t thoroughly enjoy themselves. Supreme President Italiana has been looking towards the future lately and his future looks a lot brighter with the economic impact of the Classic. Also, the Tarrentians are not going at this alone. While budding rivals on the diamond, Quintessence of Dust and Tarrentum have collaborated to bring about an unforgettable World Baseball Classic.”
“I’m Rodric Fiani for TSPNN.”

[Cotdelapoms]

After their fantastic performance in the Wadomia Invitational, Cotdelapoms will be sending a team made-up largely of players from the u-21 national team.

Starting Pitchers (3):
Gabriel Banville
Luc Turmel
Arthur St-Cyr

Relief Pitchers (6):
Eugène Jolicœur
Benoît Sévigny
Markus Lang
Édouard Constant
Stéphane Vallée
Eugène Pierre

Catchers (2):
Ben Berri
Jean Naslund

First Basemen (2):
Pete Larimer
Ian Watts

Second Basemen (2):
Alain Bernier
Carl Ellis

Shortstops (2):
Orlando Cordero
Jean-Paul Johansson

Third Basemen (2):
Tim Mordecai
Sean Callaghan

Outfielders (6):
Vladimir Ballentine
Serge Dupuis
Joseph Dubois
Arnaud Plourde
Mats Trefort
Paul Williams

Choose my runscorers: Y
Choose my lineup: Y
Follow my Pitching Rotation: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y
Godmod injuries to my players: Y
Eject my players: Y
Godmod other events: Y

Do whatever you like. Baseball is a niche sport in Cotdelapoms, I have no attachment to these players.

[Sarzonia]

Khalil Dennis is not the kind of person to be confrontational. Since he assumed the managerial duties in Sarzonia, he has yet to be ejected from a game for arguing a call.

His bench coach Geoff Yancey, on the other hand, brings a bit more bite to the Sarzonia coaching staff. When he saw the comments from Secristan centerfielder Brian Schuster guaranteeing two victories over the Stars, he promptly plastered them on the clubhouse walls at Fleetwood Park in Woodstock.

"That punk thinks he can guarantee two victories against us," Yancey said. "And he is willingly giving us bulletin board material.

"We've got a few things to show him, don't we?"

That they would. Even though starting pitcher Brad Baxter is slated to open the World Baseball Classic against unranked Michael VII at Fleetwood Park, John Morgan, fresh off being the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the Cyanea Series for the Woodstock Mountaineers would take the hill against the Millionaires.

Morgan and catcher Fred Carlton stepped away from the rest of the clubhouse to talk privately.

"You know he's batting second, right?" Carlton said.

"Yep. Believe me, I'm aware. I know exactly what I'm going to do to that motherfucker."

Carlton looked in Morgan's eyes and saw the animosity. He still maintained a poker face, but the gleam in the catcher's eyes clearly betrayed the smile he was hiding. Attaboy John he thought.

Morgan and Carlton then returned to the centre of the clubhouse. Morgan saw a seat next to new fifth starter Josh Campbell was empty and sat down next to him.

"Looking forward to Thursday?" Morgan asked Campbell.

"What do you mean? I don't start until Sunday."

"You know what I mean."

Campbell looked at Morgan and saw the look on his face. He didn't want to know what that meant, but now he had no way of avoiding it.

[Quintessence of Dust]

OOC note: The NCE is a fiercely Liberal paper, which explains the balance of this piece.

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer
Koumura's shock exit overshadows opening ceremony

The Quodite baseball world was tonight rocked by the news that Momoko Koumura has refused a call-up to the national team on grounds of moral conscience. The mercurial infielder, whose accomplishments in Minimal League Baseball, the Free Austin Baseball League, and five consecutive World Baseball Classics have led to her being acclaimed as the greatest player in the history of Quintessence of Dust by home fans (while being essentially unheard of in foreign media sources), cited opposition to the involvement of several Tarrentian corporations in sponsorship of the 16th World Baseball Classic - including MegOil, the company sponsoring the group featuring both host nations.

WBC 16 was intended to be a platform on which to launch future Quodite hosting efforts, and winning a bid to co-host the tournament was seen as a vindication of the steady investment in baseball infrastructure overseen by the Department of Sport, but without the most famous Quodite face involved, organizers are admitting behind closed doors that it could prove a disaster for the national image of baseball. "Even if you don't follow baseball, you've heard of Momoko Koumura - and if she's not on the team, it's a struggle to see what this has all been about," said one senior administrator.

In addition to the honour of hosting, the Quodite team for this WBC has been seen as their strongest ever, after the addition of several members of the Keisler Cup winning Under-21 side, including MVP Ben Zimmerman and third basewoman Sam "Speedy" Spade, a legitimate replacement for Tabitha Weber in the hot corner. But virtually every famous Quodite victory at the WBC has involved Koumura's hitting and baserunning. She hit over .500 during both of the last two WBCs and holds numerous national records, as well as being well known for sparking rallies with a daring steal or tricky defensive play.

While teammates have mostly refused to be drawn on the nature of Koumura's departure - presumably not wishing to divulge their own political views on the situation - several have spoken in support of her right to make the decision. "It's her decision whether to play or not, and if she doesn't feel comfortable walking into a stadium draped in oil company advertisements, then I guess that's her call," said middle infield partner Huang Li. "There is no ill will," said Emily Sanderson. She also indicated that they felt they could still play to win without her presence in the lineup: "Fortunately, we have a lot of young talent on offer. She will be missed - but this doesn't change our desire to win.

Koumura announced her decision by her online blog in a post written from Outineau, Kelssek, where she is remaining in the Athletes' Village to support her friends in the Olympic team. Noted for her outspoken views on a number of political subjects, she once requested a trade from her FABL team after the chairman issued pro-Israeli statements, and has been seen on countless protests during the offseason.

"I cannot in good conscience compete in a tournament the principal aim of which is not to further international competition or promote participation in baseball, but to record profits for polluters of the sea, the earth, the sky, and the human soul." She provided links to Tarrentum based organizations critical of MercantileBancshares's lending practices, a report on union busting inside the McSquiggie’s corporation, and a topical webcomic. (Not related her trenchant anti-corporatism; it just had a great science pun in it.) But the bulk of her criticism was reserve for petrochemicals firm MegOil, going so far as to suggest that the WBC Council prohibit such companies from sponsoring sanctioned events in the future.

Spurred on by a leading baseball star's apostasy, students and young people disrupted the opening ceremony of World Baseball Classic held in New Cleethorpes (though the considerably larger event in Tarrentum was presumably unperturbed), shouting anti-capitalist slogans and setting on fire an effigy of rigidly neoliberal Secretary of State George W. Madison.

The event was intended to unveil the new nickname for the national baseball team, selected by public poll during WBC15 - "Things", which received 1.7% of the vote. Standing in front of a ClipArt baseball bat on a PowerPoint image entitled "Welcome to the Quintessential Things!! Let's Pitch a Home Run!!" as bearded sociology students impressed leg warmer wearing bicurious arts graduates by handing out flyers detailing the use of harmful chemicals in the manufacture of Tarrentian furniture with a manly vigour, first basewoman Anna Alaja noted, "This lacks the feel of professionalism."

[Quintessence of Dust]

Matchday One results

Reminders: Home team is listed second. Winning team is in bold (also tends to have scored more runs, in many cases). You do not have to use the line scores, unless your opponent has already RPed doing so.

MegOil Group

Quintessence of Dust  220 020 003 - 9			
Iron Coast            000 011 000 - 2			
			
Delaclava             211 002 000 - 6			
Grantanata            020 200 03X - 7			
			
Tarrentum             012 010 000 - 4			
Bodegraven            000 002 023 - 7			
			
Sibirsky              100 100 120 - 5			
New High Charity 24   201 021 10X - 7

Yuppers FoodBrands Group

Cassadaigua           111 010 020 - 6			
Conservants           101 000 010 - 3			
			
Milchama              000 130 100 - 5			
Bergnovinaia          000 003 000 - 3			
			
Lycrabon              000 200 001 - 3			
Gracelona             002 102 20X - 7			
			
Teinohikira           000 200 102 - 5			
Cosumar               001 001 002 - 4

Modi-Cube One Group

Zwangzug              100 210 000 - 4			
Navarrone             001 000 010 - 2			
			
Qazox                 100 002 010 - 4			
Churchma              001 100 201 - 5			
			
Western cuba          100 220 030 - 8			
City of Norfolk       111 010 210 - 7			
			
Saint Haden           020 001 020 - 5			
Cotdelapoms           221 030 00X - 8			

McSquiggie’s Group

Tocrowkia             400 000 000 - 4			
Manticore Reborn      211 201 00X - 7			
			
The Babbage Islands   000 120 010 - 4			
Sakurakoku            001 101 000 - 3			
			
Virabia               101 100 000 - 3			
Evandonia             200 000 000 - 2			
			
Tentalon              000 000 020 - 2			
Peace Republic        000 201 00X - 3			

MercantileBancshares Group

Newmanistan           103 020 201 - 9			
Daemonheart           000 001 000 - 1			
			
Yafor 2               102 122 100 000 - 9			
Pacific_a             402 002 001 002 - 11			
			
Mantwenic             102 011 001 - 6			
Castigonia            021 003 10X - 7			
			
Taffy 3               100 100 010 - 3			
Mossulia              210 000 004 - 7	

BergBucks Group

Sarzonia              102 120 000 - 6			
Michael VII           000 001 70X - 8			
			
Secristan             100 110 160 - 10			
Voltronica            000 100 004 - 5			
			
Allamunnic States     110 000 000 - 2			
Elemanu               200 110 02X - 6			
			
Silver Beach          000 100 061 - 8			
Frelassio             120 501 21X - 12

[Bergnovinaia]

Ok... here's my roster.

The Bergnovinaian

Starting Pitchers (3):
Issac Blanchard
Randy Horn
Davis Johnson

Relief Pitchers (6):
Hugh Rexford
Matthew Warthen
Kelly Macmaster
Jamie Yoakum
Lonnie Goldin
Tyrone Leonardi

Catchers (2):
Darryl Diers--Starting Catcher
Nelson Dinwiddie--Sub

First Basemen (2):
Guy Swindoll--Starter
Lonnie Charpentier--Sub

Second Basemen (2):
Alan Frisbee--Starter
Clayton Vrabel--Sub

Shortstops (2):
Christian Lintz--Starter
Kurt Kerfoot--Sub

Third Basemen (2):
Ted Capozzoli--Starter
Clinton Lafollette--Sub

Leftfielders (2):
Kendrick Howden--Starter
Moses Smid--Sub

Centerfielders (2):
Darius Down--Starter
Rod Mertins--Sub

Rightfielders (2):
Raphael Spenner--Starter
Marcel Naman--Sub

Designated Hitters (3):
Quinton Prinzivalli
Robert Stacks
Fidel Lofaso

Choose my runscorers: Y
Choose my lineup: N
Follow my Pitching Rotation: N
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y (Nothing that will put them out of the WBC please!!!)
Godmod injuries to my players: Y
Eject my players: Y
Godmod other events: Y

[Qazox]

QOXSports.com/WBC 16 Coverage

Qazox    100 002 010 - 4
Churchma 001 100 201 - 5

Qazox baseball has hopefully reached rockbottom now. A Walk-off by Cosumar in the bottom of the 9th and Qazox is off to a bad start at the 16th World Baseball Classic. The game started off great, as Thomas Brown tripled to center and Juanita Sanchez doubled him home. But Sanchez was stranded at third and Qazox wouldn't score again until the 6th. Churchma struggled a bit in their WBC debut, as the first 7 batters either grouned out or flied out. But with 1 out in the 3rd, Jordan Lubinsky lofted a homerun to left center, tying the game at 1-1. In the 4th, Hank Tyler doubled to center and two pitches later, came home on Alberto Linehan's single to left, giving the Rockets a 2-1 lead.

In the 6th, with 2 outs, Qazox' meat of the order banged 3 consecutive doubles (Jason Tyson, Chad Savoy and George Rabbinski) off of Colby Colgate; and took a 3-2 lead. Colgate did get Victoria Wright looking a 3-2 change-up to end the threat. In the 7th, with Eric Shoppach clinging to a 3-2 lead, but only having thrown 63 pitches; David Dell decided to keep him in the game. Cliff Devens lead off teh inning with a double to center, quickly followed by Lubinsky's 2nd HR of the game giving the hosts a 4-3 lead. Shoppach was taken out after that 2nd homerun in favor of Tonya Douman.

In the 8th inning, Dyana Garski banged a HR off the right field foul pole tying the game up at 4-4, and chasing Colgate from the game. Alonzo Sooseman came in a proceeded to get the next 3 batters on 5 pitches. Niether team could score int he next two half-innings setting up the penultimate at-bat.

Leading off the 9th, Randy Gomez drew a walk after fouling off 6 pitches from Douman. Hank Tyler flied out to center, and Gomez just barely made it back to 1st, as he was running on the pitch. Alberto Linehan singled to right, and Tyler slid just under the throw to make it to third. After getting Byron Uda looking on a 2-2 curve, Jake Massa drove a 3-1 fastball just under the diving Adele Grahame, bringing home the winning run.

Qazox now head home to face Zwangzug, who edged Navarrone 4-2.

[Churchma]

Churchma Rockets WBC 16 Coverage
Rockets stun #8 ranked Qazox with a walk-off from Massa
Churchma Sports Inc.

Being unranked was a slap in the face to third baseman Jake Massa. Massa had gone through the first eight innings of play hardly doing anything exceptional on the field or in the batters box. In his first at bat he struck out looking. In the fourth inning he flied to left-center field. In the seventh inning he grounded out to third base. Going into the batters box in the bottom of the ninth, all signs pointed to Massa going down for his fourth straight time in the game. He absolutely stunned the 40,902 fans at Cooper Field when he singled to right-center driving in Randy Gomez for the game winning RBI.

"I struggled offensively and defensivley all game long, so to get credit with the game winning RBI in Churchma's first international baseball game in the history of the Republic is pretty exciting. It's an honor to play with these guys, and we're all ecstatic about this win. Qazox is obviously a great team- they are definitely worthy of their top ten ranking," Massa said.

Starting pitcher Colby Colgate couldn't have said it any better himself. Colgate fought through 7-plus tough innings where he struck out seven Qazox batters and only gave up three walks. He also gave up four earned runs- two of which were home runs over Cooper Field's monster right field wall.

"Those two home runs that I gave up were huge. It's awesome that coach Barksdale had the confidence to let me fight through it and keep pitching. I didn't even end up pitching 100 balls today, so I'm going to be feeling fresh by my next start," Colgate said.

Next up for the 1-0 Rockets, will be Western Cuba. The Cubans are coming off of a 8-7 win over the City of Norfolk. The Cubans were down 6-5 going into the top of the eight inning, but ended up pulling out a big win on the road.

"We have to go play these guys in their stadium and they're coming off of a big win. We're not going to take the Western Cuba squad lightly. We know this win over Qazox was big, but it was fun while it lasted. It's time to get ready for WC," coach Barksdale said.

[Lycrabon]

Lycrabon limps out of gate, loses 7-3

GRACELONIA - The Lycrabon Blue Jays, in their inaugural appearance of the WBC, feel flat tonight, losing to fellow newcomer Gracelona 7-3. The Blue Jay starting pitcher, throwing six innings,allowed five of the seven runs, three earned. Gracelona started the scoring with a double,wild pitych, single, and triple in the third. Lycrabon responded with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth, only to allow another run via solo home run in the bottom of the frame. Gracelona followed with two runs in the sixth and seventh, before another manufactured run for the Jays in the top of the ninth. The home opener for the Jays will be tomorrow against Bergnovinaia.

Lycrabon 000 200 001 - 3
Gracelona 002 102 20X - 7

LP: Benson (0-1): 6 IP, 5 R, 3 ER

Wednesday, August 18: at Gracelona (L 7-3)
Thursday, August 19: Bergnovinaia (22 Glenn Carrillo)
Friday, August 20: at Cassadaigua (21 Bruce Barrett)
Saturday, August 21: Milchama (20 Zachary Francis)
Sunday, August 22: at Conservants (19 Tyrone Conley)
Monday, August 23: at Teinohikira (18 Tom Benson)
Tuesday, August 24: Cosumar (22 Glenn Carrillo)
Wednesday, August 25: Gracelona (21 Bruce Barrett)
Thursday, August 26: at Bergnovinaia (20 Zachary Francis)
Friday, August 27: Cassadaigua (19 Tyrone Conley)
Saturday, August 28: at Milchama (18 Tom Benson)
Monday, August 30: Conservants (22 Glenn Carrillo or 21 Bruce Barrett)
Tuesday, August 31: Teinohikira (21 Bruce Barrett or 20 Zachary Francis)
Wednesday, September 1: at Cosumar (20 Zachary Francis or 19 Tyrone Conley)

[Sakurakoku]

Almost Hollywood
Maebara almost has walk-off but Sakurakoku falls in opener 4-3

KUGAMACHI - In the end, close only counts in horseshoes.

With one out and Minoru Shiraishi on first representing the tying run, Kei Maebara smacked a 1-2 pitch 422 feet into the stands, but barely a foot to the left of the 3rd-base foul pole, before grounding into a double play as Sakurakoku lost the opening World Baseball Classic match, 4-3, to the Babbage Islands.

The sellout crowd of 46,229 at Duran Stadium came to the edge of exploding in celebration as Maebara's ball traveled to the stands before a wave of disappointment was emitted in a great "Aw..." The foul ball seemed to have taken the life out of the crowd between the foul ball and the ensuing double play. The near-home run came one inning after Hideo Uehara was called out at the plate on a long fly ball from pinch-hitter Daisuke Mizokuchi. Uehara had a look of disbelief on his face when the call was made, but Mizokuchi urged him not to argue as the Babbage Islands players headed to their dugout.

In all fairness, given the significant talent and experience discrepancy between longtime participants The Babbage Islands and a Sakurakoku team playing in its first ever WBC, it was telling of the team's potential that Sakurakoku was able to keep pace with the Babbage Islands throughout the game. But that was little consolation to Maebara.

"To think that the ball came this close to staying fair..." Maebara said to reporters after the game. "I was about ready to explode." He sighed before continuing: "We ran out of luck, I guess."

"We have some things to work on, but I'm quite proud of this team," Sakurakoku manager Hayato Kojima said in a post-game interview. "We stayed focused, played hard, and kept up with them the whole way. It would have been better if we had won, but we did what we had to do. The balls just didn't fall out way."

The loss tempered an otherwise memorable opening game for Sakurakoku, who scored first in the 3rd inning and never trailed by more than a run at any point, keeping the crowd loud and in the game the whole way. Toya Kaneda opened the scoring in the 3rd inning with a two-out RBI single to left-center that scored Shiraishi from second to applause from the crowd. Daisuke Taiguchi added an RBI single in the 4th, and Shiraishi drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 3-3 in the 6th inning.

Taro Izumi pitched strong seven innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks. Sosuke Hayasaka was charged with the loss after allowing a two-out double to left field that scored the go-ahead run from second.

Sakurakoku next travels to Virabia, who were 3-2 winners over Evandonia. Sinker ball pitcher Yuuichi Sawatari will start.

The Babbage Islands   000 120 010 - 4 8 1		
Sakurakoku            001 101 000 - 3 11 2

[Newmanistan]

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS CRUISE IN RETURN

Daemonheart- We’re back! Unfortunately for Daemonheart and the rest of the nations competing in the World Baseball Classic, it doesn’t appear as though the Rockets have lost a beat as they cruised on the road to relatively easy 9-1 victory over the WBC newbies from Daemonheart. It was an interesting home side as apparently they have not brought any backup players, just eight position players and a pitcher. So if you think our starters are going to a toss a lot of innings, just think about what poor Jaeson Aeraeum is going to have to go through. He certainly did show a lot of fatigue, walking 11 batters in total, seven of which came in the final three innings.

Enough about Daemonheart, as it was simply incredible to see Newmanistan back in action, and many players seemed to realize that there was some significance in the return. Starter Courtney Ratigan was honored to throw the first game back, “The Empire has kind of been at a loss since we don’t have a World Bowl or World Cup team to follow anymore. I guess deep down, I have been rooting for Cassadaigua, it’s an easy team to root for if you are a female athlete. Domestic sports are strong and exciting, but I’ve missed it.” Was Courtney worried that baseball would also be eliminated? “I think at first, you know, because of how it all went down. There was a period of time where we all thought we would never be back. When we were announced as returning, it was almost as uplifting as winning a championship. To be back and be able to compete, it’s something that can easily be taken for granted. I’m still young, so I plan on pitching in a few more Classics even after this one.” If anyone is wondering if Newmanistan’s return in the Classic is going to mean a return to other sports, Emperor Michael IV erases those thoughts with a simple one word answer. “No!” he said. Well, there goes that, and with that kind of firm response, there should be no more wondering about it, so let’s not take the baseball for granted. This is something not lost on third baseman Meghan Butler, whose SLORC has dropped considerably since there is no more Rockets in the World Cup, “We are Newmanistan’s team. The focus is on baseball, and it is on us. It makes it even more of an honor then it would have been otherwise.” Though her SLORC is down, we will have to inquire with Quodites on if there is another exotic baseball statistic if there is another stat that works like SLORC, though factoring in disappointment of the team not attempting to qualify for the World Cup!

Making the trip to Daemonheart were several other notable athletes, including Jeremy McAllister, Jr. Despite no longer having the ability to play in the World Cup (though he would have retired after World Cup 52, if we had been participating). Junior says while he misses representing the Rockets, he’s been able to cope otherwise, “I still get my football. Playing in The Babbage Islands has been fun. There are so many World Cup players on that team, that I am able to get enjoyment rooting for them to do well during qualifying, and they are doing exactly that!” What brought Junior to Daemonheart though? “It was symbolic. Belgium had the day off, and I wanted to be a part of it. I have always gotten along with the players on the baseball team, though.” Though perhaps his girlfriend has something to do with it. “Stacey’s been fantastic. Our schedules never really allowed us to meet and get to know one another. We’ve crossed at some Empire functions, but the last year has been great. I’ve dated some high profile people, I guess, but Stacey is different, this is going to work. I promise!” Stacey Keisler, also at the game, confirmed the two are a pair, “Like he said, I’ve always admired him, but we have been just so busy that we never really had been to chat. We have a lot in common, having been in the limelight so much, and I think that’s one of the big factors that brings us together.” This should be a developing story as the Classic proceeds.

On the field, the Rockets had little trouble with Daemonheart, jumping on the board in the first inning. Stacie Meadows led off the ballgame with a double and score on a bloop single by Courtney Weinman with one away to kick things off. It was just one run, and in the third, the same two kicked off a three-run binge. Meadows came up with one away and singled to right, and stole her way to third in Wrightian (Brittany Wright, HoFer) fashion. Danielle Scott lined out sharply to short, but an error by the shortstop on a pointless through to third attempting to double up Meadows ended up in the dugout, and Stacie scored. “That was definitely a newbie mistake. Why Cömanssenium thought he had a play on Meadows was ridiculous. That’s what inexperience does. The hosts would have settled for that being all the damage, but Courtney Weinman and Meghan Butler hit consecutive two-out doubles, and a single by Kristen Wheeler following them ballooned the lead to 4-0. In the fifth, Weinman’s great day continued, belting a two-run homer over the fence with Danielle Scott (who drew a walk) to make it 6-0. The Rockets added two more in the 7th, thanks to the base on balls. Aeraeum walked the bases loaded with one away, then another walk, to Rachel Cuyler, made it 7-1, and a sac fly by Julie Sexton made it 8-1. Sexton later added a solo bomb in the 9th to account for the ninth run. On the mound, Courtney Ratigan was outstanding, tossing a complete game, allowing one run (it came in the 6th) on three hits. She walked not a soul and fanned ten. Courtney Weinman came a triple short of the cycle, but otherwise went 3-for-4 with three ribbies and also reaching on the base on balls.

And there you have it. The Rockets are back and are looking as good as they had been before. Newmanistan has another road game, against Yafor 2, before what will be a very emotional home opener against Mantwenic.

[Secristan]

SCHUSTER SLAM LEADS MILLIONAIRES

Prior to the game in Voltronica, Brian Schuster declared his new nickname in which he wants to be referred too. “The Crow” he said, named for the way he wore his eye-black before the game. It was a different style then we would normally see and says it came about after a night of messing around with his girlfriend Jessica, the daugther of SDOS spokeswomen Shannon Carner. Jessica, showing the businesswoman instincts of her mother, told her boyfriend that he should already begin trying to create an image for himself. While looking for ways to do it, Jessica playfully applied it to his eyes and both liked what they saw, and “The Crow” was born. It took some getting used too by his teammates, with some admitting they liked it and others thinking it looked terrible. Jonas Kindlon, who even at 32, is a posterboy of females across the nation, says he could never do it, while Jeremy Duffy said it was very creative and but he would not apply it out of respect for “The Crow”, because Schuster doesn’t seem to want copycats at the moment. During the game, Brian did more then just look good, he swung a good bat starting with an RBI single in the first, scoring Kindlon, who doubled. Secristan had at least one hit in all but the sixth inning, and used that consistency to score a single run in four of the first seven innings. A great performance on the mound by Kevin Chavis, who threw eight innings (and pitched to four batters in the ninth), allowed Voltronica to never get into the game. Schuster was the story of the game in the box score and not just in the media as he belted a grand slam in the 6-run 8th that opened up the game to the eventual 10-5 victory. “See, that there is why I am a stud!” boasted Schuster, “People spend a lot of money for the privilege of watching of me play. I’m getting corporations already wanting to attach my face to their product lines and I try to give back. That slam was a thing of beauty, they say it went 426 feet, but it probably was more like 430. I have asked stadium management to give me an exact, precise measurement. I owe that to my fans.”

The Secristan Department of Sports was very excited about this result as well, and all indicators are that the marketing of Brian Schuster had a great effect on ratings for the opener against Voltronica. Spokeswoman Shannon Carner was all smiles, “Brian is such a great young man. His talents are just so obvious, he is going to be a wonderful player, and my daughter loves everything about him. We achieved great ratings for this game, and he is a big part of that, and he will continue to be as this Classic goes on. He’s excited about going to Sarzonia for the next game to fulfill the first part of the Schuster Prophecy.” About Sarzonia, Schuster simply laughed at their loss to Michael VII and credited himself for the result. “I can understand that they would only be able to think about me, as it is hard not too. But that envy resulting in a loss to some country named after its leader is funny. They are going to have to get over that as soon as possible. We are expected to arrive in Woodstock at 7:26 AM tomorrow morning, so Sarzonians will have to wake up early to see me at the airport to take pictures but unfortunately, we are going right to the hotel after we arrive, so I regret to inform them that I will be unable to sign autographs.”

[Elemanu]

BergBucks Group

Allamunnic States     110 000 000 - 2			
Elemanu               200 110 02X - 6			

Annabelle: What on earth does that mean, Elsie?
Elsie: It's a baseball score!
Annabelle: Baseball? We have a baseball team?
Elsie: Looks like. I think we're called the Cavemen... no, that's not right. Barbarians, that's it.
Annabelle: That's not a very nice name! Why on earth are we called the Barbarians? Why not something nice, like the Islanders, or the Five Stars?
Elsie: Well, apart from the fact that those names are already being used, I think it's because they swing a bat, which kinda looks like a club.
Annabelle: Pretty wimpy club if you ask me...
Elsie: I'm sure you wouldn't like to get hit by one!
Annabelle: Okay, I'll give you that. But I can't make sense of that score!
Elsie: Well, the numbers at the end is how many runs we scored.
Annabelle: Runs? Not goals?
Elsie: They don't try and hit a target in this game Anna. They have to run around a diamond to score.
Annabelle: A diamond? That's not very big, is it? Sounds expensive though.
Elsie: No, silly. A diamond shaped track.
Annabelle: Well, that's a silly shape for a track, why isn't it circular?
Elsie: I'm not sure, but I think it's because they have to touch some bases in order, and they're at the points of the diamonds.
Annabelle: Bases? What are bases?
Elsie: They're like little square targets that you have to stand on for it to be counted.
Annabelle: And they have to run around them in order to get a goal. I mean a run.
Elsie: Exactly!
Annabelle: So does that mean we won that game?
Elsie: It looks like! And a good win too, six runs to two.
Annabelle: Have we even ever played international baseball before?
Elsie: Well, no, not that I can remember.
Annabelle: So that means we won our first ever international baseball game, that's awesome!
Elsie: Well, we won our first ever football game too... we were playing!
Annabelle: Oh yeah, and Paul scored our first ever goal.
Elsie: That's right.
Annabelle: So what are the rest of the numbers then?
Elsie: Well, that's called the line score, and it tells us how many runs we scored in each innings.
Annabelle: What's an innings?
Elsie: It's like a half of a game of football.
Annabelle: But there's one... two... three...
Elsie: Nine.
Annabelle: I was getting there! Yeah, nine halves. But that's more than a whole!
Elsie: Well, it's like a ninth of a game then.
Annabelle: A ninth? Isn't that like ten minutes?
Elsie: Well, yes, but a game of baseball usually takes a lot longer than that though.
Annabelle: That's really boring!
Elsie: I dunno, I'm not into it.
Annabelle: Okay, so we scored two goals to one in the first innings then?
Elsie: Yup! It says here Max Murph scored a home run with his first hit of the ball too!
Annabelle: That's pretty good, right?
Elsie: I'd say so.
Annabelle: The States didn't score any runs after the second innings, what happened with them?
Elsie: Well, it says here that after the second innings, Jessie Lightford managed to pitch a perfect seven innings.
Annabelle: Huh?
Elsie: Well, it means that he got everyone out.
Annabelle: Out?
Elsie: Oh, I'll explain it to you another time. We have to catch our plane.

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum - 4
Bodegraven - 7

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News
Falcons Upset in Shocker

UPDATED WITH BOX SCORES!!!
Bodgraven- The Tarrentum Falcons were upset in the first Group Stage game of the 16th World Baseball Classic by lowly and unranked Bodegraven. The "Grave Diggers" managed to put across 5 runs in their last two innings to win 7 - 4 over Tarrentum. With little to show in emotion after the game, Falcons Manager Tiberius Wavi said that he was "thoroughly disappointed with the outcome. Sometimes you win and sometimes you get screwed over by officiating errors. Tonight was a little of both." Wavi held a short press conference after the game and fielded only two questions. He told the gathered reporters that Liona Marrada would still be the starting pitcher for the next game (against Grantanata, HOME) and that he isn't going to be hasty and make any lineup changes.

I think we need to take Wavi's word on this one. The game was simply poorly played. Most fans have come to expect that these small opponents are no real threat - which they should be - except that Margaret apparently has a pension for fucking people over. There's never anything bad with fickleness, just let it happen to someone else. Ahhh, but we could gripe and moan all day about how the Falcons dropped a perfectly winable game, or we can dive into the in-depth game summary.

The game started with the Falcons' leading off in the top of the first. Zappataro was able to reach but could only steal second through the next three batters, all of whom failed to reach base or push Zappa home. Johnny Burtoni came out in the bottom of the first inning for his international debut and from the outset showed the world why he was the number one pitcher in the IBL. Burtoni struckout the first two batters and then caused the third to fly out to Torretta in center field. With a quick inning under their belts, the Falcons started the second with a center field blast from Dessea 'The Dream' Vallena-Favella. Vallena-Favella took a 1-1 curveball over the head of the centerfielder for an off-the-wall triple to lead off. First-time WBC-er Joe Thomas then smacked a grounder between first and second to drive home Vallena-Favella from third for a 1 - 0 Tarrentum lead. The Grave Diggers pitcher was able to shut down the bottom of the order to end the half-inning and leave one runner stranded. Burtoni came out in the bottom of the second and recorded his third strikeout while giving up a hit but no runs to the Bodegraven hitters.

With the top of the order up at the top of the first, the Falcons looked ready to tack on more runs to their miniscule lead. Zappataro was called out on strikes on a 3-2 hanging curve in the top of the strike zone. While walking back to the dugout, the normally cool-headed Zappataro had some choice words to the Qazoxian home plate umpire. With one out and no one on, Gina Torretta was able to take that same hanging curveball and slam it into left field. The ball fell just before reaching the left fielder and Torretta wisely stayed on first for a hit. Erni Washini then moved Torretta over to second with a sacrifice fly to deep right. Antoni Favella then responded in the clutch with a 2-out double to bring home Torretta. With a runner on second, Vallena-Favella took a fastball back up the middle, past a diving Bodgraven shortstop, to bring home her husband. Antoni Favella had one hell of a jump on the ball thanks to a surprise Hit-n-Run call by Wavi from the dugout. The Bodegraven pitcher responded by striking out (for his second K) rookie Joe Thomas. Now firmly up 3-0, the Falcons helped Burtoni shut down the Grave Diggers in the bottom of the third. Burtoni got the lead-off hitter to strike out then almost gave up a home run but Torretta made an unbelievable grab over the fence to get the out and save the shutout. Burtoni then struggled to get out the next batter and gave up a scorcher to the right of Gradoni on third. Gradoni made a great stab at the ball and was able to throw the runner out in time to end the inning.

Gradoni led-off the fourth inning with a bloop single to right field. Woodrio Tucia then put a ball through the infield between shortstop and third base for his first hit. Burtoni then swung at a bad pitch and put it right back to the pitcher, who turned and started the double-play. While Gradoni was able to get to third, with sure-hitting Zappataro coming up, the Falcons faced two outs. The Grave Diggers escaped any damage when Zappataro swung at a high pitch and popped up to second base to end the inning. Zappataro was so frustrated with his hit that he started to mouth off to the home plate umpire again. In a post-game interview Zappataro said that he lost his cool and blamed the out on the umpire becuase of his poor call during his prior At Bat. While Zappa put it so nicely to the umpire is highly unlikely as the Qazoxian ump tore off his mask and immediately through Zappataro out of the game. This caused a heated exchange between Ruboni Kilia, Falcons first base coach, and the ump. While Kilia wasn't thrown out, the umpire gave a warning to the Falcons bench. With their star shortstop out of the game, Wavi moved Vallena-Favella to SS and put in Trego Saronna at second. The Grave Diggers, despite the eruption of Ferdini Zappataro, were unable to advantage of the situation and only managed to draw a walk out of Burtoni as he once again shut down the Bodegraven hitters.

In the top of the fifth, Torretta got on base with her second hit of the game. Washini continued his hitless game, much to his annoyance, with a pop out to the Bodegraven catcher for the half-inning's first out. Favella took a 1-2 fastball right back to the third basemen, who made a terrific stab at the ball to catch for the second out. Vallena-Favella stepped into the batter's box with 2-out and Torretta still at first. Though it looked as though the Grave Diggers would escape this inning unharmed Vallena-Favella showed us why she is 'The Dream' by sitting on that same high hanging curveball. She took the pitch deep into the right-center gap which allowed Torretta to storm home from first while Vallena-Favella pulled up at second for a double. With Thomas at the plate, Vallena-Favella stole third but the rookie couldn't bring her home as he hit a dribbler back to first for the final out. Burtoni was still on top of his game, striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth so that the Falcons could maintain their 4 - 0 lead and Burtoni could maintain his shutout. In the top of the sixth, the Grave Diggers gave up a hit to Gradoni to lead off but then shut down Tucia, Burtoni and Saronna. After striking out his fourth consecutive batter to start the bottom of the sixth, Burtoni through an inside curve to the Bodegraven hitter who smoked it into the outfield for a double, and only the second hit of the game for Bodegraven. The next batter then grounded out to first base. Burtoni then took a little time with his next batter. Though he threw two straight balls to begin the At Bat, Burtoni returned with his sharp cutter to bring the count even at 2-2. The next pitch must have just got away from Burtoni as the batter got a good turn on the ball and hit a line drive home run over the left field wall to pull the Grave Diggers within two runs of the Falcons. Burtoni ended the sixth by causing a groundout to second.

The top of the seventh saw a pitching change for the Grave Diggers as they brought in spectacular reliever [INSERT NAME HERE] to keep the Falcons at four runs. [INH] did a great job, striking out Torretta to start the inning. Washini finally got his first hit, a single, but the Favella's were unable to get a hit or move Washini around the base paths and the Falcons ended the half-inning with only a hit. Burtoni remained in the game, he had only thrown 67 pitches, in the bottom of the seventh and was able to sit down the side with a strikeout, a groundout and a pop fly. The top of the eighth saw the Bodegraven's reliever dominate the line-up with his wicked curveball. Thomas, Gradoni and Tucia were each sat down quickly. Burtoni was finally sat down in the bottom of the eighth by Wavi in favor of Luis 'Abnormal' Mata. The move would prove to be disastrous. The Abnormal Mata started by giving up a solo home run to the first Bodegraven batter he faced. With the lead now down to one run (4 - 3), Favella trotted out from behind the plate to talk with Mata at length. There was a lot of gesticulation from both catcher and pitcher but Favella left the mound with a grin on his face. Mata was able to strikeout the next hitter he faced but then gave up a double. The next batter then hit a single into right field, scoring the runner on second to tie up the game. Wavi then trotted out, he had pitchers warming up in the bullpen after Mata gave up the solo homerun, and pulled his set-up man for reliever Tim Sutton. Sutton, coming on with a man on first, gave up a single to the first batter he faced. With runners on first and second, Sutton then left a fastball up in the zone which was quickly slammed into left-center to for a 2-RBI double, the Grave Diggers had now blown open the score to 6 - 4 over the Falcons. Sutton was left in and managed to get the second out of the inning with a ground out to first. Unfortunately, the runner on second moved over to third on the out. This was unfortunate because Sutton then gave up another hit, scoring the baserunner from third to but Bodegraven up 7 - 4. Wavi trotted out to the mound and looked like he was going to pull his reliever but kept him in with an adamant Sutton telling him that he could deliver the last out. Unfortunately, what Sutton delivered was a ball right to the back of the Bodegraven hitter, moving the batter to first. Wavi finally pulled Sutton and brought in, for the third pitcher of the inning, the beloved Juliana Italiana. Italiana quickly made work of the batter and struck him out on three pitches to end the horrible inning.

In the top of the ninth, with the Falcons down and now feeling the pressure, Wavi pinch hit for Italiana with Valerio Utteroni. Utteroni was able to get on first but Saronna then struckout. With one out and one on, Torretta grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double-play.

It was an interesting turn of events and something totally unexpected. Mata and Sutton were key relievers in the IBL last season and for this implosion one could only assume that the nerves of pitching for your nation got them. However, that explanation doesn't mean jack shit against a team as poor as the Grave Diggers.

Batting

Pos	Name	AB	H	R	BB	AVG	SB	CS	HR	RBI	SLG
SS	Ferdini Zappataro	3	1	0	0	.333	1	0	0	0	.333
2B	Trego Saronna	2	0	0	0	.000	0	0	0	0	.000
CF	Gina Torretta	5	2	2	0	.400	0	0	0	0	.400
1B	Erni Washini	3	1	0	0	.333	0	0	0	0	.333
C	Antoni Favella	4	1	1	0	.250	0	0	0	0	.500
2B, SS	Dessea Vallena-Favella	4	2	1	0	.500	1	0	0	2	1.500
RF	Joe Thomas	4	1	0	0	.250	0	0	0	0	.250
3B	Xavier Gradoni	4	2	0	0	.500	0	0	0	0	.500
LF	Woodrio Tucia	4	1	0	0	.250	0	0	0	0	.250
P	Johnny Burtoni	3	0	0	0	.000	0	0	0	0	.000
a	Valerio Utteroni	1	1	0	0	1.000	0	0	0	0	1.000

Pitching

Name	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	ER	UER	H	BB	K	WHIP
Johnny Burtoni	7	0	0	0	2.57	2	0	3	1	10	0.57
Luis Mata	0.1	0	0	0	180	2	0	3	0	1	30.00
Tim Sutton	0.1	0	1	0	180	2	1	3	1	0	40.00
Juliana Italiana	0.1	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	0	1	0.00

[Cassadaigua]

Jennifer’s Space

It’s so exciting to be playing baseball at this level again! The World Baseball Classic is back, and once again we look to win a championship. Things started off in the nation of Conservants, which is a better national name then Click Click Baboon, for sure. Yes, I just read the piece from fellow blogger Shannon Myers in the World Cup. The World Baseball Classic has its share of “what the hell were they thinking when they named their country” (please no one take offense!) nations as well that aren’t in the World Cup. The one that comes to mind first is Michael VII. He might have thought it was cool to name the country after himself, but are they going to have to have an national name change when he passes away? Or maybe he’s immortal like Johnny Stryker, who remains 27 despite the rest of his team apparently aging normally. Pacific_a is a weird one. You won’t find many nations with an underscore in their name, for sure. Then there’s “City of Norfolk”. In that nation, do they call cities as countries? Think someone got confused there. What’s this “New High Charity 24"? You know, there are three numbered nations overall in the World Baseball Classic. Actually four if you include “7" for Michael the 7th.

Enough of that silliness, as we won and it’s not something we should take for granted. As after all Sarzonia lost to Michael VII and Delaclava lost to Grantanata. I’m guessing that those baseball teams were too busy supporting their nation’s football team’s efforts to win the World Bowl 11 Championship that they were caught off guard on the diamond when it came time to play. We also saw Tocrowkia lose to Manticore Reborn, and Churchma beat Qazox. That last one though I will call a mild upset, not a major one like those others ones, as Churchma has shown promise. So we are happy not to have been beaten by the upset bug ourselves, as we cruised to a victory over Conservants by the score of 6-3. Samantha Thatcher pitched 7 in the win, giving up 2 runs and striking out 8. Our offense was balanced, not having one big inning, but instead scattering the 6 runs over 5 scoring innings. Everyone had at least one hit, and I am happy with my 2-for-4. Milkymama awaits us next, we’ve had an interesting history with them in baseball, particularly. More on that in my next blog. Until then, peace!

[Sarzonia]

Woodstock Daily Mail

Before facing 'The Crow', Stars eat crow

By Ryan Calvin
Daily Mail Staff Writer

A sold out crowd came to Michael VII's national baseball stadium expecting their unranked side to take it on the chin against Sarzonia during the opener for both teams, and for six innings, the Stars looked like they were ready to oblige. However, Sarzonia's bullpen coughed up seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to turn a victory into an 8-6 defeat that brought boos down from the crowd.

Pitcher Brad Baxter threw six innings, allowing four hits and one run while throwing 93 pitches, but switch pitcher Alan Tisdale gave up six consecutive hits, including two home runs, and saw Sarzonia's 6-1 lead quickly evaporate to 6-5 before Roger Tolliver relieved him with runners on second and third and one out.

On his first pitch, Tolliver emptied the bases, but did so because he coughed up a three-run jack that essentially gave Michael VII the match.

"Very disappointing way to start," said Stars manager Khalil Dennis. "Brad wasn't going to go out there to start the seventh because of his pitch count. We're not going to push anyone out there until it gets late in qualifying. We need to build up to him being able to go eight or nine. If I had to do it over again, I'd do it."

Sarzonia (0-1) admitted to being distracted by pronouncements from Brian Schuster, aka "The Crow" that his Secristan national team would beat the Stars twice and that he was "sick of" the Stars and had no respect for them. However, starting pitcher John Morgan said the team needed to focus on "playing basic fundamental baseball."

"Because we didn't, we lost this match," he said. "We're going to have our hands full in Amherst if we keep this [crap] up."

Morgan will take the hill against Secristan. He would not comment on Schuster's interview before the Classic, saying he didn't want to get his team into a war of words. He added that he told Dennis he wanted to go the distance if possible.

"Look, I just came off pitching in the Cyanea Series," Morgan said. "I'm ready to go nine if I have to."

Note: Following the match, Dennis announced that Woodstock Mountaineers relief pitcher Calen George was called up to the national team.

"We were planning to call him up anyway based on his performance against Quinniville," Dennis said. "Not doing so is an oversight that I can't believe happened."

The move would give Sarzonia a full 25-player roster. The Stars had been playing with 24 players the past few World Baseball Classics.

[Tocrowkia]

NordicNation.net

World Baseball Classic 16 coverage

Code: Select all

TEAMS        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E
TOC          4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   4 5 0
MTR         2 2 1 0 3 0 0 0 0   7 8 0


LOSS:
Tommy Thunder (0-1)
HRs:
Kevin Monroe 1 (1)

They say all good things must come to an end, and that was proven correct when Toomy Thunder's 7-year opening day win streak came to an end. Despite an early barrage of runs, including a Kevin Monroe two-run bomb to right field in the first inning, Thunder struggled out of the gate giving up two runs in the 1st, and two more in the second. "He wasn't himself out there. He was falling behind, missing his spots and tried to compensate by laying it in there." Thunder was yanked after the third inning. The bullpen surrendered the more runs which essentially put the game out of reach later in the game.

Hopefully, we'll be able to right the ship next time around!

[Quintessence of Dust]

Sorry for the (alightly longer than anticipated) delay. Thius is the RP cutiff of r MD2.

[Quintessence of Dust]

Tables on mf3.

Iron Coast            200 110 000 01 - 5		
New High Charity 24   001 021 000 00 - 4		
		
Bodegraven            000 000 011 - 2		
Sibirsky              000 000 000 - 0		
		
Grantanata            020 000 120 - 5		
Tarrentum             200 121 00X - 6		
		
Quintessence of Dust  001 010 000 01 - 3		
Delaclava             200 000 000 00 - 2

Conservants           000 301 110 - 6		
Cosumar               082 000 00X - 10		
		
Gracelona             000 510 000 - 6		
Teinohikira           000 000 110 - 2		
		
Bergnovinaia          100 004 000 - 5		
Lycrabon              101 403 00X - 9		
		
Cassadaigua           000 011 000 - 2		
Milchama              001 012 01X - 5

Navarrone             003 200 005 - 10		
Cotdelapoms           001 006 020 - 9		
		
City of Norfolk       000 100 100 - 2		
Saint Haden           001 031 00X - 5		
		
Churchma              000 001 002 - 3		
Western cuba          302 100 00X - 6		
		
Zwangzug              002 702 000 - 11		
Qazox                 201 200 003 - 8

Manticore Reborn      141 000 000 000 - 6		
Peace Republic        002 022 000 001 - 7		
		
Evandonia             000 121 100 - 5		
Tentalon              012 000 010 - 4		
		
Sakurakoku            040 000 010 - 5		
Virabia               001 010 002 - 4		
		
Tocrowkia             001 000 210 - 4		
The Babbage Islands   110 000 001 - 3

Daemonheart           001 100 000 - 2		
Mossulia              100 012 00X - 4		
		
Castigonia            002 000 000 - 2		
Taffy 3               002 010 00X - 3		
		
Pacific_a             000 121 102 - 7		
Mantwenic             000 000 010 - 1		
		
Newmanistan           000 111 200 01 - 6		
Yafor 2               301 000 100 00 - 5

Michael VII           200 000 000 - 2		
Frelassio             000 300 12X - 6		
		
Elemanu               021 400 020 - 9		
Silver Beach          012 001 000 - 4		
		
Voltronica            080 010 010 - 10		
Allamunnic States     002 011 000 - 4		
		
Sarzonia              020 021 301 - 9		
Secristan             210 030 200 - 8

[Delaclava]

Manager: #00 - Neil Greinhaus (second WBC)

C 50 Tim Joneson
1B 16 Jacob Nieves
2B 32 Ellis Moore
3B 17 Jim Jeffries
SS 3 Takashi Kibachi
LF 8 Brad Schaffer
CF 26 Devon Kizer
RF 7 Kalvin Burke
OF 24 Carlos Ruiz
OF 2 Justin Semintur
IF 1 Ryan Flaffer
UTIL 4 Ivan Caleva
UTIL 13 Luke Torovic

SP 10 Jason Paluca
SP 23 Severiano Sanchez
SP 44 Denton Wolfe
SP 55 Matt Terscera
SP 97 Martan Sneijhder
RP 2 Ohana Lui
RP 40 Matt Wheeler
RP 97 Luis Pancevo

All games in Delaclava are played at the Delaclava National Athletic Complex, Baseball Field 1. The stadium seats 97,000. No DH is played at home.

Choose my runscorers: Yes
Choose my lineup: Yes
Follow my Pitching Rotation: Don't have to follow it
Godmod scoring events: Maybe (TG me first)
RP injuries to my players: Yes, minor (TG me for major)
Godmod injuries to my players: Maybe (TG me first)
Eject my players: Yes, two per game
Godmod other events: Maybe (TG me first)

[Sakurakoku]

Sakurakoku Tastes Victory For First Time
Miyabara hangs on for save as Sakurakoku edges Virabia

A 4-run 2nd inning and seven strong innings from Yuuichi Sawatari was enough for Sakurakoku to get away with a 5-4 victory over Virabia, it's first ever win in the World Baseball Classic.

"It feels good," Kei Maebara, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, said after the game. "We saw what some of the other new teams were able to do to the more experienced ones at this tournament. We felt like we could be one of those teams too."

"(The win) feels great," Manager Hayato Kojima said, "and it is against a pretty good team, but we can't let it go to our head. If our group is any indication, anyone can beat anyone. We need to continue putting our best effort on the field."

The bulk of Sakurakoku's runs came in the second inning, where Seiji Inugami led off the inning with a long solo home run to right on a 2-1 pitch. After a single by Satoshi Takeda, Hideo Uehara grounded into what would have been a double play had the throw from the second baseman to first not been off the mark. Kenta Morita drew a walk before Sawatari made a drag bunt towards first to advance the runners. Daisuke Taguchi then drove a double to the right-center wall to drive in two runs. Another error allowed Minoru Shiraishi to reach first and Taguchi to third, before Maebara singled to left to score Taguchi. Toya Kaneda flied out to right to end the inning.

The win did not come easy. Leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the ninth, closer Kouhei Miyabara allowed a two-run homer with one out to let Virabia come within one. Then the tying reach first after Daisuke Taguchi dropped a fly ball. A mound visit from Kojima seemed to settle Miyabara, who proceeded to strike out the next two batters to earn his first save. "He just told me to relax," Miyabara said when asked what Kojima said that calmed him down before his two strikeouts.

Sawatari put up a good outing for Sakurakoku, allowing two runs and just four hits over seven innings. His only walk came on a wild 3-1 pitch in the 3rd inning when the ball slipped out of his fingers and bounced a foot in front of the plate. "Not sure how that happened," he said when asked about the pitch.

The game marked the first entry of two of Sakurakoku's female players. Kaori Kichida replaced Uehara as a pinch runner in the 8th after Uehara drew a walk. Her speed was put on display as she stole second base before Morita drove her home with a single to right. In the home half of the 8th, Natsuki Minamoto came into the game in relief of Sawatari and allowed just one hit. Sakurakoku's third female player, knuckler Shizuru Yoshino, is the team's fifth starter.

Sakurakoku (1-1) will try to win its first game at Duran Stadium when Tentalon (0-2) visits.

Sakurakoku            040 000 010 - 5 11 1
Virabia               001 010 002 - 4 7  2

HRs:
Sakurakoku: Inugami (1)
Virabia: *smudge*

W - Sawatari
L - *smudge*
Hld - Minamoto
SV - Miyabara

Scoring Summary:

Top 2nd: S Inugami homers to right.  1-0 Sakurakoku
Top 2nd: D Taguchi doubles to right center, H Uehara and K Morita score.  3-0 Sakurakoku
Top 2nd: K Maebara singles to left, D Taguchi scores, M Shiraishi to second.  4-0 Sakurakoku
Bottom 3rd: *big smudge*  4-1 Sakurakoku
Bottom 5th: *big smudge*  4-2 Sakurakoku
Top 8th: K Morita singles to right, K Kichida scores.  5-2 Sakurakoku
Bottom 9th: *smudge* homers to left, *smudge* scores.  5-4 Sakurakoku

Standings - McSquiggie’s Group

Team                W-L
Peace Republic      2-0
Evandonia           1-1
Manticore Reborn    1-1
Sakurakoku          1-1
The Babbage Islands 1-1
Tocrowkia	    1-1
Virabia	            1-1
Tentalon	    0-2

[Sarzonia]

Woodstock Daily Mail

Ejections, bad blood mar Stars win

By Ryan Calvin
Daily Mail Staff Writer

AMHERST, Secristan -- Sarzonia pitcher John Morgan was among three Sarzonian players ejected from the team's match against Secristan after beaning Millionaires centerfielder Brian Schuster with a fastball in the top of the first inning, but a different kind of hit -- Kate Schmidt's first home run of the current World Baseball Classic, lifted the Stars to a 9-8 victory that will be overshadowed by brawls and choice words.

Playing in his first match against Sarzonia after disparaging comments against the team prior to the start of the World Baseball Classic, Schuster came up after leftfielder Jonas Kindlan grounded out to second. Starting pitcher John Morgan beaned him with a first pitch fastball, which sent Millionaires players charging out of the dugout. Sarzonia's players charged out of their dugouts and the fight was on.

"He [Schuster] was disrespectful," Morgan said. "You better believe [hitting him] was intentional."

X-rays and an MRI done at a local hospital were negative. According to a press statement from the hospital, Schuster would be kept overnight for observation but would likely be released from the hospital early the next morning.

"He was already feeling better when he got here," said a hospital spokeswoman.

After a 20-minute delay, the Tocrowkian home plate umpire ejected Sarzonia's Morgan and shortstop Chris Spontanelli and Secristan first baseman Todd Meyer and manager John Fusco. He also warned both benches, leading Secristan's bench coach to come out to argue.

"Why didn't you eject him? if you're going to eject Fusco?" he argued, according to Sarzonia first baseman Skip Hale.

"There was no evidence [Dennis] ordered him to throw at your guy," the Tocrowkian umpire said.

After a few more moments of animated arguing between the bench coach and the umpire, Sarzonia bench coach Geoff Yancey came out to argue.

"What's the matter, your fruitcake manager can't stick up for himself?" the Millionaires bench coach said in a mocking tone.

"Shut the fuck up!" Yancey snapped before he, too was given the heave-ho.

With Morgan's ejection, Sarzonia (1-1) had to use six relievers. Newcomer Calen George got the win by throwing one scoreless inning in the bottom of the eighth before third baseman Kate Schmidt jacked Michael McKeon's 1-1 pitch over the 351-foot sign in left for her first homer of the World Baseball Classic and the eventual match-winning run. Alvin Dryden got the last three outs for the save.

Schmidt was tossed for kicking dirt on the catcher as she touched home plate. That led to another bench-clearing confrontation, but no punches were thrown. Schmidt was unavailable for comment after the match.

Following the match, Sarzonia's players immediately left the field as Millionaires fans began throwing programmes and anything that didn't involve money at them. A beer bottle nearly hit centerfielder Drew Bradley as he ran in from his outfield position.

"The ejections put us in an unfortunate position," Dennis said after the match. "We had to use just about everybody in the bullpen." Dennis would not address Morgan's decision to hit Schuster or Schuster's comments. However, Schmidt did.

"I guess 'The Crow' is going to have to eat crow," she said, pointing to a Daily Mail headline about Sarzonia's loss to Michael VII to open the World Baseball Classic. "He should stop letting his mouth write cheques the rest of him can't cash."