World Baseball Classic 43- Everything (Finals G6 Posted)

by **Midand** » Sun May 27, 2018 6:44 pm

MIDAND'S PREMIER SPORTS NEWS NETWORK
BY MNN

DOGGOS SLOWLY RISING AGAIN

The commercial break, which is a new ad for the MNN broadcast of the League of 5 Summit, ends.

The graphics for MNN Sports swoop in, and the title is proudly displayed.

They disappear to make way for the new chart of standings and scores of the results of the previous matchdays.

Matchday 13

Midand                             0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
West Guam                          0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 X  3

Matchday 14

Acapais                            0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1  3
Midand                             0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 X  4

Matchday 15

Midand                             0 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  8
Darmen                             0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 3 0  7

Current Rank Among Group

Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                     12   10   2    87   57  +30    30
2 Darmen                             12    6   6    57   52   +5    18
3 Midand                             12    5   7    56   58   −2    15
4 Acapais                            12    5   7    47   58  −11    15
5 West Guam                          12    4   8    41   63  −22    12

The charts then disappear and we are brought back to the newsroom, where John Goodkoe, smiling and sitting at his news desk as always, begins to speak.

"HELLO baseball fans, and welcome back to the World Baseball Classic 43!" he says enthusiastically, though a little more tired looking.

"Earlier these past few days we had matchdays 13-15 broadcast on our channel", he continues. "You can still watch select clips of the events on our website MNN.Sports.MD on the "Recent Events" tab, or our Twitcher account @SportsMNN."

"Anyway, these past few matchdays, the Doggos, after their small loss earlier in the tournament, have slowly been rising again, while barely losing against West Guam, still managed to closely win against Acapais and Darmen", he says. "This has now brought them to 3rd place in it's group, rising from 4th."

He stops to clear his throat and take a sip of water from a glass on his desk.

He continues. "This has brought much excitement to Doggos fans, coaches, and players alike as they have hope that they can make it further in the tournament. We now bring you to Sharol Candavers at the stadium abroad for a special interview with Doggos pitcher Thomas Repot. Sharol?"

We switch to Sharol who is standing beside Thomas in front of a cheering horde of fans, all trying to crowd around Thomas.

"Thank you John, and so, Thomas", she says, and Thomas nods and smiles. "What do you think attributed to your recent success?"

"Well", Thomas replies. "I think it was Dekon and Israel mostly. I was a big part, but that's just my puffed up head talking."

They both laugh.

"But seriously. They did amazing these few matches. Their pitches, they were amazing. I think they are truly valuable members of the team, and I actually believe we can do great and keep pushing forward in this tournament", he says.

Sharol nods. "Mmm-hmmm", she says. "Thank you Thomas."

"You're welcome", he says, and turns around to sign autographs and take pictures.

"Wow, popular kid", she says, laughing. "Back to you John."

We switch back to John in the newsroom.

"Thank you Sharol", he says. "And now we switch back to MNN News. For more info on when the next matches go live, visit our website or our Twitcher for more info. This was MNN Sports at the WBC 43."

We switch to MNN.

by **West Phoenicia** » Sun May 27, 2018 6:56 pm

With the World Baseball Classic now in full swing and with the Confederates topping their pool with 5 straight wins. The West Phoenician Royal family and the West Phoenician Congress have a stern warning for visitors, something that has been lacking from baseball fans and players who are touring West Phoenicia during the West Phoenician home games.

Respect our laws. Below is a number of laws that West Phoenicia holds dear that has showed lack of obeying from international guests who not only come to watch baseball but who also enjoy touring the 50 city-states that make up the The Confederate Kingdom of West Phoenicia.

Volunteer Labor Act 2014

The voluntary labor law is permissible in all city-states except. Polytheisa Heaven, Cluella, Gospela, Druidia, Sunset Passions Territory, and Agape who all opted out of the program.
The Volunteer Labor Act was originally designed for convicted criminals whose time whilst imprisoned is used to assist agricultural programs through out the nation.

The Volunteer Labor Act permits people serving prison sentences or Community Service Orders who are classed as Minimum or Medium Security risks are given the opportunity be farmed out to farms and plantations to give back to the nation and enabling the nation of West Phoenicia to prosper economically.

The health and welfare of people serving under these conditions must be maintained.
If a prisoner tries to escape they may be whipped by a corrections official or overseer An escape attempt will see that prisoner removed from the program and an extra 2 years added to their sentence.

Long term unemployed can find themselves assigned to Volunteer Labor force roles also so they can give back to society while receiving benefits.

Opposition to bill:

The Socialist Party and their left wing allies have strongly condemned The Volunteer Labor Act as cheap gift wrapping disguised as Slavery, instead of a Volunteer project to assist both prisoners, the long term unemployed and the the economy.

Plural Marriage Act 2014

West Phoenician Conservative Prime Minister Countess Tia High held a press conference in 2015 for all major WP Broadcasting News stations to announce the passing of the Plural Marriage Act. Reigning monarch King Glenton Bush II has never hid the fact of his polygamous lifestyle and upon his coronation his two wives were elevated to the status of queen.

While never illegal, polygamy was predominantly practiced among the wealthy and aristocracy class. With this new law in place it will protect the interest of all classes who choose to embrace plural marriage as an alternative lifestyle and who may have been afraid being a polygamous may have cost them their employment or affect other areas of their or their families lives.
A limit of 10 brides per spouse. Women also gained the right to also marry up to three husbands.

Let Them Eat Cake Act

In a joint press conference Leaders of the Segregation Party and the West Phoenician Aristocracy Party celebrated the passing of the 'Let them eat cake act' in the city states of New Dixie, Bourbon-Versailles; Antebellum Territory and Olympia Hills who were the first to enact the law in their city-state.

The act will ensure the wealthy and nobility classes are able now allowed by law to have hospitals, cafes, hotels, attend schools and venues exclusively for the upper classes, segregating them from the lower classes.

The act grants venues and places of business the right to refuse entry if one is not of a nobility or wealthy class in special segregated zones.

This law only applies to the city-states above and was passed in Congress; 258 For, 230 against and 12 abstained.
Any future city-states needing to pass the bills in their own city-states with support from over 51% of their citizens to implement the law if they desire it.

Since the creation of the bill, The city-states of Immaculata, Titania, Seleucid Dominion, Fantasi, New Tudor, Mythologica, Nova Texas, Neo Aztecayan Province, Savannah Grove, New Rome, Scarelett Orient Isles, Medevial County, King Glenton Bush I Province, Oceania District, and Brigham Territory have passed the Let them eat cake Act after strong support from The Antebellum Party, The Segregation Party and The Aristocracy Party in those city-states were able to gain large support from their citizens.

The bill strongly opposes that this is discrimination. Rather it is economic Segregation. People of a lower economic class still have access to hospitals, schools, churches, shops etc. Except in segregated zones.

Capital Punishment Act

The West Phoenican Congress passed the Revised Capital Punishment Act, 426 to 74 under the revised law the following crimes could possibly receive the death penalty.

1. Murder in the 1st or 2nd degree

2. Drug Trafficking

3. Poaching

4. Assisting in the production of nuclear weapons

5. High Treason

6. Treason

7. Espionage against West Phoenicia

8. Aiding an enemy in time of war

9. First Degree Kidnapping

10. Airplane Hijacking

11. Murder for Hire

12. Rape

13. Terrorism

14. Illegal drug manufacturing

Methods of Capital Punishment.

1. Lethal Injection

2. Guillotine

3. Hanging

4. Firing Squad ( Ptolemaic Haven and New Dixie only)

5. Stoning (New Rome only)

6. Gas Chamber ( Titania only)

7. Electric Chair

City-state opt out:

The law was passed on the national front. However a clause in the law enables any city-state that does not wish to support capital punishment can opt out of having the death penalty as a sentencing option.

The City-states of Agape, Immaculata, Acapella Territory and Polytheisa Heaven all removed temporarily removed the death penalty as an option and have instead instilled a life sentence without parole as an alternative.

However in areas of terrorism, treason and crimes committed in war times national law supersedes all city-state laws. Thus someone residing in a city-state that has opted out of capital punishment can still be sentenced to death for those crimes.

Protect our Flag Act

1. The flag is able to be flown on all government buildings, as well as private business and residences.
2. If the flag causes offences that is your problem not the Nation of West Phoenicia and asking for it to be removed is prohibited unless it has been illegally placed on your private property.
3. Anyone caught burning the flag will receive a criminal conviction of 5 years in Prison.

Life begins in the Womb Act

Congress passed the Life begins in the Womb Act 383 to 117.
This was a conscience vote where senators did not need to vote along party lines.

The bill affirms that;

1. Life is formed in the womb at Conception.

The bill enables;
2. Criminal convictions for those who injure a woman causing her to lose her baby
3. Criminal convictions for doctors not registered by the Ministry of Health to perform abortions. While abortion is not banned only those medical staff specially registered are allowed to perform abortions under strict conditions.
4. Increased funding allocated to women's health and programs to educate citizens on areas such as abstinence, adoptions and birth control.
5. $6000 baby bonus for women who choose to keep their babies and full financial assistance until the parents are able to return to work.
6. Funding allocated to the creation of additional free child care facilities for middle to low class citizens. Governess educational courses and programs created for low income citizens to work for rich families.
7. Closure of clinics that perform illegal abortions.
8. Free counselling services at all health clinics for parents conflicted within wanting to have an abortion.

Anti-Vaccination Act 2016

With 25% of the population now opposed to vaccinating their children at birth they have pushed for legal recognition to have their rights not to vaccinate protected by law.
West Phoenician Congress has discussed this law at length with both pro and anti vaccinators taking the floor to appeal to the senators.
After lengthy discussion Congress passed the bill; 283 For, 190 Against, 42 abstained.

This bill was a conscience vote. Senators did not need to vote along party lines

The Anti Vaccinating Act protects parents who choose not to vaccinate their children on religious, political or other beliefs.
The Act protects doctors who support the non-vaccanation of children.
The act prohibits the discrimination of anti vaccinators from workplaces, schools, hospitals etc.
The Act allows the parents the choice to either choose to vaccinate or non vaccinate.
Allows for free discussion and advertising from pro and anti vaccination organisations.

Animal Rights Act 2016

The Animal Justice Party have worked tirelessly to create a bill granting greater rights for animals. Key areas they want to see are the right to life, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture.
The act will slowly work to phase out animal testing for cosmetics and other like products while medical testing is exempt with government approval.
Harsher sentences for animal abusers.
Creation of additional wildlife reserves.
Death penalty for poachers,
While hunting is exempt the types of animals forbidden from being hunted list has increased.
Religious reverence of animals has been noted down with harsh penalties for those who violate the laws or who mistreat animals seen as deities.
The closing down of animal mills, battery hen houses and kill shelters, now instructed to push for greater adoptions or special land set up for animals unable to be adopted out.
Protection of animals working in the military or law enforcement.
Extra funding allocated to zoos and similar establishments to assist in the welfare of animals.
Creation of more zoos and other establishments with breeding programs and back habitat suitable enclosures.
Extra money allocated to the Animal Protection Bureau to assist with training officers to assist in the welfare of animals and prosecution of offenders.
The formation of an Animal Justice Court set up in Melbourne-Haven to deal with cases involving animals and animal rights.
A list of animals now on the no fur list. Whilst still allowing the fur trade as to not affect the economy but laws in place of the type of animal that can be used for fur.

These are just some of the laws that visitors and players should be made aware of during their stay.

by **Midand** » Sun May 27, 2018 6:58 pm

(OOC: Gonna try something different now)

DOGGOS AT THE WBC 43
DEKON KETCHKON

"Hey Dekon!"

Dekon jolted awake and rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah rough day I know", fellow player Repont Depons said. "You left this in the locker room."

He tossed him his favorite lucky baseball bat he always held in his hands. Dekon rubbed his eyes again and caught it. "Thanks", he said, tired.

"I'll be outside", Repont said. "Hope I don't get buried in the crowd."

Dekon chuckled, and Repont departed the room. Dekon sighed. He had just come back from their game with Darmen, and it was a really close one. If it weren't for Israel, they would've missed one of the throws and botch the rest of the entire game.

Speaking of Israel, Dekon just noticed him sitting on a bench in the room, tossing around a ball in his hands.

"Hey", Israel said, turning to him. "Good game today."

"Yeah", Dekon said. "You were amazing by the way. That swing, just wow. Seemed better than my best even."

Israel chuckled. "Thanks", he said, tossing the ball in his hands. "You did good to."

"We did good today, didn't we?" Dekon said, picking up his bat to leave. "Anyway, I have a question to ask you..."

"Shoot", Israel said, throwing the ball higher. It was about to hit the ceiling.

"You were born in Midand, right?" Dekon asked, putting his bat away.

"Yep. Moved to North Prarie when the Great Meme War came. I mean, who would want to move back after the war?" he said, the ball now finally hitting the ceiling.

"Ah, thanks", Dekon said. He turned to leave.

"And also", Isreal said, putting the ball away. Dekon stopped and stared.

"Try not to get buried in the media", he said jokingly.

Dekon laughed out loud. "No promises", he said, and pushed the doors out.

Reporters, fans, and players alike bombarded him, asking questions, begging for autographs, selfies, all that. While all the chaos happened, Dekon smiled. There was hope for the Doggos after all.

by **Northwest Kalactin** » Sun May 27, 2018 8:40 pm

MD13

Northwest Kalactin                 1 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0  7
Beepee                             0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1  5

The kalactanians pull of another win against Beepee the kalactanians have definitely been on a hot streak so far and we hope that continues for the rest of the tournament. Pitching that game was guy bell who struck 5 batters out in the 7 innings he played that game. Hitting plays were when Wendell Barkley hit a Grand slam in the fifth inning other runs were scored by Adam Felix Louis Hamilton and guy bell.

MD14
No game Kalactanians prepare for a game against Nuevo Caraces

MD15:

Nuevo Caracas                      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Northwest Kalactin                 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 X  3

A no hitter! Joe Kenton throws a no hitter only to give up 2 walks that broke up his perfect game this is the first no hitter in international Kalactanian baseball history! The main part of the the no hitter was Joe Kenton striking 13 players out he usually throws a killer slide when there is a 0-2 count that happened 4 times in this game and he used the slider 3 of the 4 times. Another high lite on defense was an amazing throw by Adam Felix to gun a guy down that was stealing second and had got on base because of a walk. The three runs were scored off of some great hits including a solo home run by Jake Bannon. The other 2 runs where when Adam Felix hit home by Wendell Barkley and then got hit home by Paul Brown. Overall it was a great game for the kalactanians and we hope this WBC includes some more great pitching.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sun May 27, 2018 9:51 pm

"WHAT. IS. THIS!?" Archie McGovern screamed at Tanya Ericsson, spraying spit all over the South Falls manager in the process, as he slammed the door open and walked in.

"Whoa, Archie, what the fuck?" was the manager's only reply before she realized that her starting shortstop was holding a scrap of newspaper in her face. She snatched it out of his hand, still more than a little offended at the lack of respect, and read it aloud. "South Falls rumored to be pursuing Kayla Carey, Newmanistan's best shortstop?"

"You think I'm not good enough for you, huh?" McGovern sneered again, turning and flipping over the chair on the other side of Ericsson's desk. "Best infield prospect in the nation, rookie of the year, and you want Kayla Carey?"

"Hold up, Archie," Ericsson suggested, holding her hands up as a peace offering. "Nobody is talking about signing Kayla Carey, okay? The press can talk about whatever they want. We have freedom of the press here in Super-Llamaland. But I'm a hundred percent behind you. If you play like the stud prospect you are, you'll have nothing to worry about."

"I don't care about freedom of the press! They're slandering me!" he shouted, throwing the newspaper clipping at her again. "The Athletics, who have a hole in shortstop with former prospect Archibald McGovern, 24, hitting just .217/.264/.385 this season, are rumored to have offered Carey a four-year contract," it read. "Yeah, and we can't stop that," she rebutted. "But you don't need to worry about us signing Carey. Now clean up my fucking office. If you do that one more time, I'll fucking cut you, Carey or no Carey." McGovern grumbled about it, but he knew the strewn papers and the ruined chair were his fault. He was a good kid, Ericsson reflected, but he couldn't control himself. It didn't help that he'd lost all form this year.

Once McGovern walked out of the office, Ericsson sighed and dialed Athletics GM Chris Elliott. "Chris, seriously? You leaked the Carey offer to the press?"

"Uh...yeah," the GM replied, uncertain where his manager was going with this. "What happened?"

"I've just had one pissed Archie McGovern in here screaming at me for our lack of faith," she said. "You're not going to be able to keep him and Carey. And I know you like his potential. You've got to tell him eventually."

"Trust me, Tanya," Elliott replied. "I've already got a deal lined up with Talahita. You don't need to worry about him."

by **Hicanans in Exile** » Sun May 27, 2018 9:59 pm

"Nicky Vasco! Just the guy I needed to see. Got a moment?" Alex Cameron said upon sighting his beleaguered closer. The twenty-four-year-old swallowed his anxiety the best he could, following his cocksure manager to the back office.

It had been an interesting day for Nicolas dos Santos Vasco. He'd come on in the top of the twelfth and served up the juiciest meatball he could muster to the first batter of the night. One mighty swing of the bat later, and The Greater Nordics had taken a 5-4 lead - one that they would not relinquish as they sent Hicaña into undisputed last place. Not a bad day - but certainly an interesting one. And with Cameron calling him in, it could quickly turn to the worse.

"Sit down, will ya?" his Llamanean manager asked. He chose to stand, while an indifferent Cameron sat down.

"Nicky. I fought for you to be on this team. You know that?" He did, in fact. Although the bribes to the HFA were what really sealed the deal, he had convinced Alex Cameron to take him on. "So when I fight for somebody, and they don't pay me back, I get angry, Nick. Okay? I'm pissed at you right now."

"Sorry about tonight, sir," Vasco offered diplomatically. "I don't know how that slipped. But tonight was all my fault."

"Not just tonight!" Cameron said, seething. "The blown save to Kita-Hinode two days ago! The insurance runs the last time we were here! The two other blown saves - that's three in total! In, what, five innings? You can't be this bad!" Vasco tried his best not to freeze up. "I'm sorry, coach. I let you down. Give me one more chance to prove myself. I'll show you why you chose me."

"You'd fucking better," Alex Cameron spat out. "I am very disappointed. Make me proud, Nicky boy," he said. "Now get out!"

As he walked out, Nicolas Vasco was deep in thought. He'd have to pitch well the next time out. But it'd be worth it in the long run. He started composing a text to tell the Miklandian government - Operation False Flag had hit a serious snag.

by **Beepee** » Sun May 27, 2018 10:58 pm

Match day 13
Northwest Kalactin
               1 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 7
Beepee 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 5

Beepee faced off against the Northwest Kalactins, in what will likely be the two horse race for second position.

It was a delightful match where the momentum swung on several occasions. However it was the top of the fifth that proved decisive. the solid Beepee pitching faultered and the Kalactins capitalised with Wendell Barkley hitting a grand slam in the fifth. The ever cheerful Beepeean fans erupted with joy at the excellent play. Despite some excellent late play it was too little too late for Beepee who fell 7-5.

After the match Beepee manager Homer Unn quoted “We must have had 99 percent of the match, it was the other three percent that cost us.”

Match day 14
Beepee 1 0 1 0 2 4 0 0 0 8
Gloriax 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2

Beepee faced bottom side Gloriax in what turned out to be a one sided affair.   Beepee star Bruce Labare hit a home run inn the sixth to seal the victory.

Following the game Homer Unn dedicated the victory to his parents stating “I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.”

Match day 15
Super-Llamaland
               0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 5
Beepee 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3

Despite the surprise result the last times these two teams met, Beepee could unfortunately not perform a miracle for a second time falling easily to Super-Llamaland.

The disappointing result was summed up by Homer Unn "To be the man, you have to beat the man."

At the half way stage in the tournament, Beepee are fairing remarkably well sitting in third place and on the same points as the Kalactins. Whilst noone expects Beepee to continue this form it has been a successful first half of the tournament.

by **Cassadaigua** » Mon May 28, 2018 8:20 am

OOC: This RP branches off of this one from the Cup Of Harmony 72 thread if you want some context. Understanding more about the characters probably means knowing what my World Cup RP theme was, but you can enjoy this RP without knowing more about them, too. The cliff notes version is that Taylor (entitled child of wealthy parents) had been accused of being a bully towards Nathan (part of a lower middle class family). She had done some things which would be considered bullying that the school never saw.

It was the day following “Take Your Daughter To Work Day”, although Taylor was one of the few that actually had the opportunity to do so. Class hadn’t started yet, and Taylor had the six tickets ready to give Nathan. Nathan was sitting towards the side of the room away from the teacher, so Taylor had to call him over again to be in view of the teacher.

“Hey, Nathan, can you come here for a second?” Taylor asked. Nathan, who always dreaded these moments, obliged. Taylor looked at the teacher, to make sure she was close enough to overhear and see what was about to take place.

“Nathan, I know how much you loved the World Cup qualifying game that we gave you tickets for, so my mom wanted you to be able to enjoy the baseball games too. These are six tickets for the next game against New Sangti!”

Nathan, confused but happy, remembering that everything seemed to be fine from the World Cup, took the tickets. “Aren’t these like, right behind the Cassadagan dugout?” He asked.

“Yeah! See I am not a mean bully. Right, Mrs Bradford?” Taylor asked, knowing the teacher was watching. Mrs Bradford, who was again stunned by this gesture, “Taylor, you and your family are such thoughtful and considerate people, how can anyone call you a bully?”

“I know, right!” Taylor exclaimed.

“Well, thank you very much!”

(Nathan goes home with tickets)

“Dad! Dad! Look, tickets to the game against New Sangti!” Nathan exclaimed, as he showed him the tickets.

“Those are good seats. Did you get these from the Wilson’s again?” Dad asked.

“Yeah!” Nathan replied.

“This is getting weird. So Taylor bullies you, and now these tickets are being given to you. Again. Just the other day, she was calling us losers and saying that robots would take our jobs because we don’t make enough money. Now the family is giving us great tickets for a sporting event. Again.” He turns to his wife and asks Nathan to excuse them so they can talk about it. Nathan obliges.

“Hun, the first time was nice. But the bullying was continuing, and now here are more tickets. Do you think this is really meant to be nice, or to rub their money in our faces in a way that they can be seen to look good so that the school thinks their daughter is not a bully?” he asked.

“I get what you are saying, but he expects to go now.” she replied.

“Oh I want to go, don’t get me wrong. But, this seems like that family is taunting us more then being nice to us by doing this. If they were being nice, the bullying would have stopped. Just the other day Nathan told us Taylor called us losers and were going to lose our jobs due to automation and technology advances.” Mr. Douglas replied. “I bet the teacher had a front row seat when she gave him these tickets.”

“I see what you are saying, but how do we stop it? He expects to go. And I mean, those are pretty damn awesome seats for a Classic qualifier against a good opponent.” Mrs. Douglas replied.

“I don’t know. But something has to give. I mean we’ll go, but this will be at the back of my mind.” Mr. Douglas answered.

by **Ko-oren** » Mon May 28, 2018 1:56 pm

Dragonfly camp, part 1

Right... Ko-oren beats Melbergia, 2-1... Runs in the second and fifth. Big game versus USS Monitor, taking first place over a South Covello loss... scores in the second and eighth innings. 5-1 over the Ireland Isles, scores in the first, fourth, seventh and eighth. Even apart from the three consecutive wins, this was some pretty decent baseball. Defence keeps it up, pitching is in order, fielding is relatively errorless. Big difference is our offence keeps piling it on. All in all, we're on 5 straight wins so that means that statistically, we're bound to drop one next game. Seriously though, we've come back from a 4-win deficit in round 6 to being ahead in the group by one clear game. What's changed?

One thing is... well, our game is a lot more built on our collective strengths. We get a player on base almost 100% of the time on the first three at bats, then as long as the next three batters don't go out too quickly, things get dangerous and the opponents start making mistakes. We simply have a really well-balanced team right now, offensively. Which is something we haven't had in a long time. Would it be possible to build my Admirals like this? Or would that mean spending a lot on extra players? The Dragonflies now have a stereotypical team together. First two to three focus on speed and getting on base, next two to three can hit and bring guys in, last three are mostly defensive players and pitchers so we cut our losses there. As long as we can keep forcing our seventh player in the order as the first player of that inning, that's another tiny thing, we might be able to exploit that.

Another thing... is that other teams just seem to have a lot more fun. The Admirals experiment is only just getting started, but is it all good to try to distill only the results from a game, to make it as cut and dry as possible, and an exercise in purely exploiting the rules?

Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                12    9   3    59   34  +25    27
2 South Covello                          12    8   4    53   36  +17    24
3 USS Monitor                            12    7   5    46   44   +2    21
4 Melbergia                              12    4   8    43   51   −8    12
5 Ireland Isles                          12    2  10    31   67  −36     6

I guess it is!

-- Eiichi Shimoda

by **USS Monitor** » Mon May 28, 2018 4:33 pm

Journal of George Geer, June 17:

I dropped my journal in the mud and lost my entries for the last several days because the mud ruined the paper, but I am sure I will remember my travels even if I don't have everything written down. We are in South Covello, and we beat them for a 2nd time, which came as a great surprise to everyone in the stadium, ourselves included.

The War Department has asked us to continue visiting bookstores and buying technical books to bring home from the countries we visit. They say the books we purchased in Ko-oren should prove exceptionally useful.

by **Xelsis** » Mon May 28, 2018 4:37 pm

ESN.xxx Website, Midseason Data Report

Midseason Stats Breakdown

With all the stats before us at midseason, and the bye game before the second half begins, we'll take the opportunity to run over the individual performances of the Xelsian squad.

First off, the stats.

Batting

Pitching

If you're just here for the quick hits, don't worry-the key stuff is summed up in the analyses.

Analysis

Batters

On the batting side of the plate, the Classic has been a mix of exhilarating performances and disappointing failures, with very little in-between.

Mntukabe Tankeros: 25 for 72, .347/.351/.597, 6 RBI, 13 SB

At the top of the order, Tankeros has been putting bat on ball and doing it hard, tripling a remarkable five times in seventy-four plate appearances, an incredible showing even with his prodigious speed and the triple-friendly expanse of Pettering Park. As active as the basepaths as he always has been, Tankeros's patience, never a strong suit, is usually at least better than the lowly single walk he has drawn, but with his hitting the way it is, selectivity is hardly a problem.

Reilly O'Connor: 24 for 55, .436/.507/.600, 11 RBI, 12 SB

O'Connor has emerged a bright spot in the order himself, the young twenty-three year-old breaking out against international competition. Bunting as well as he ever has, O'Connor has done far more than dink-and-dunk his way on, with eight extra-base hits, a team-leading eleven walks, and eleven runs batted in, as well as twelve steals. The performance would be dominant on almost any team in any context, if not for the even hotter start of Maneros.

Mario Teros: .177/.261/.258, 3 RBI

The slugging shortstop has been suffering from a power outage in the Classic thus far, as well as a struggle to simply put the bat on the ball. Hitting under .200 and slugging under .300, even Teros's respectable walk rate is well below his typical output, and he has thus far still failed to knock one over the fence. A paltry three RBIs is less than even Rumenoss, a pitcher with a fraction of Teros's plate apperances. While bench infielders have not done particularly well for themselves in limited showings, if Teros is not able to step up his game a notch, he may well need to be replaced for the team's sake.

Nolan Maneros: 25 for 48, .521/.571/1.042, 19 RBI

Hothead or passionate, loudmouth or fan favorite, whatever Maneros is or is called, what cannot be denied is that he is hitting the ball like nothing else. An 0-5 performance against Cassadaigua aside, Maneros has hit for contact and hit for power from both sides of the plate, and knocked in the only two home runs from the Xelsian team in his last outing, one in which he very nearly hit for the cycle. Maneros seems destined for regression, his BABIP is in the stratosphere, but thus far, he has been a pleasure to watch.

Demetri Swatzkova: 14 for 60, .233/.308/.367, 9 RBI

Demetri's skills as a Team Captain are not in any doubt-the beloved sportsman's presence on the field provides an unquanitifable intangible value. Quantifiable, however, age may be starting to creep on him. His statistics have been respectable, but not remarkable. His average is rather poor, but he has shown off his line-drive power, knocking in nearly as many doubles as singles. While an improvement would certainly be welcome, the well-regarded man, accent and all, is doing a service to the team simply by playing his part.

Buck Garner: 24 for 53, .453/.482/.528, 5 RBI

Buck has been spending the Classic doing exactly what he has done best over a decades-long career-just put the bat on the ball. With four doubles out of twenty-four hits, Buck's extra-base hit percentage is actually an improvement over reason XHL play, but it is his sparkling average, even with only three walks, that keep the old man a valuable force, though a pair of missed grounders at second do make his range still a question.

Colton Li: 9 for 51, .176/.236/.255, 0 RBI

Li was always a better fielder than a hitter, and has done his part competently, if not remarkably, thus far in the Classic. At shortstop, the lack of pop could usually be excused. At third base, it's a larger problem. Without a resurgence, the coaching staff will have to take a hard look at whether they can afford the luxury of his glove.

Fredrick Lasitos: 5 for 62, .081/.081/.133, 1 RBI

Lasitos was never expected to be able to hit, and his defense, keeping even the Cassadaiguan squad without a single stolen base, has been so exemplary that it's hard to criticize. Managing two doubles, if only within five hits, is a nice burst of power from the backstop, even if both were more luckily placed singles than real solid contacts. Still without a walk after sixty-two plate appearances, however, one would hope that a man used to catching balls and strikes could keep an eye out for them.

Albert Deachrist: 0 for 9, .000/.100/.000

It's fitting that the one time reaching base for a notoriously scrappy player such as Deachrist was getting plunked, and picking up the pair of steals after it was a good showing itself, even if a .000 average in nine at-bats speaks for itself to some extent. This is the realm of small sample sizes, however, and Deachrist has made solid contact in his two games, only to see himself robbed repeatedly by an excellent Cassadaiguan defense. With Li and Teros both producing little to nothing at the plate, there may be little to lose in allowing him another shot.

Chris Smith: 1 for 10, .100/.100/.200

Smith was free-swinging in both of his two games. Mostly, it led to strikeouts. When he did make contact, it led to a fly ball caught at the edge of the warning track, and an arcing one that barely missed clearing the fence on its own, one-hopping for a ground-ruled double. Much as with Deachrist, his line is awful, but more plate appearances could give him a chance to show his stuff.

Matthew Silvercreek: 1 for 1, 3B

Moving firmly into the realm of small sample sizes, Silvercreek's rocket triple was as beautiful a hit as you ever will see. With only a single pitch on record, though, it's not exactly something one can draw a trend from, and Lasitos's defense has simply been too strong to warrant replacement.

Sam Carhoones: 1 for 1, 1B, 1 RBI

At least working the count longer, fouling off seven pitches, Carhoones did better than most of the lineup in the situation he was put in, and deserves another swing at things.

Abdul Al-Umar: 0 for 4, .000/.000/.000

The most impotent of the small sample size crowd, Al-Umar's performance has been overblown in criticism from the crowd, though with the national frustration of another loss to the Cassadaiguan team, it is not hard to understand why. Al-Umar has had plenty of 0-4 games in his career, and plenty of 4-4 and 5-5 games as well. With the entire Lightning outfield performing at peak, he missed his chance to really make a move for more playing time, but certainly does not deserve to be written off for a single game's struggles.

As a whole, an extra dose of patience, or just some more favorable calls from the umpires, is what is needed for the Xelsian squad. O'Connor and Maneros have been the only ones to consistently draw walks, even Teros underperforming, and with the team's lucky BABIP thus far likely to turn around, other ways of reaching will be needed.

Pitchers

Not too far removed from the offensive side of things, the Xelsian pitching staff has switched back and forth between inspiring awe, and inspiring hair being pulled out.

Daylan Baker: 22.2 IP, 1-2, 12 ER, 4.76 ERA.

When not facing Cassadaigua, Baker is 1-0 with an ERA of 1.00. When going up against them, that pretty average explodes to 7.24. Third-ranked in the world or not, more was expected of The Golden Arm, and while shutting down the Indios was an impressive performance, it was also was what was expected of him. Whether Browning allows him one final shot at the likely Group champions is still unknown, but it's clear that the fans want to see the king back on top.

Edgar Rumenoss: 23.2 IP, 2-0, 6 ER, 2.28 ERA. (.357/.357/.643, 4 RBI)

Without much fanfare or flash, Rumenoss has quietly put together an excellent Classic. Pitching to contact, getting ground balls, he has been solid on the mound and as good at the plate as his reputation boasted, driving in more runs than three-hole hitter Teros. Even if he doesn't have the fans of the longrunning champion Baker, the brilliant young Harlo, or women's champion Deachrist, Rumenoss has certainly proven he deserved his place on the team.

Larry Harlo: 24 IP, 3-0, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA.

It is difficult to overstate how dominant Harlo has been in his three starts thus far in the Classic. The youngster's stamina had long been the biggest criticism against him, that even if he could match Baker in skill, he never could in longevity, but managing not one, but two complete games has smashed that particular attack, even if he did not make it past the sixth in his third start. His curveball has been filthy, his control has been far better than he has previously shown, and the only question is whether he can keep it up.

Katerina Deachrist: 16.1 IP, 1-2, 8 ER, 4.41 ERA.

While up-and-down performances tend to be what is expected from a knuckleballer, Deachrist's run in the XHL had been impressive in no small part thanks to maintaining a great deal of consistency. Now back to up-and-downs, and with two straight downs in starts in which she did not even make it past the game's halfway point, Deachrist's performance is in question which, of course, has led to criticism of her sex starting to come in from certain portions of the fanbase. She has the talent, she's proved that more than enough times, but she needs to get back on course if she wants to make others believe it as well.

Bubba Stevens: 7.1 IP, 4 ER, 4.91 ERA

Having your closer have the highest ERA on the team is never a good thing, but Stevens's opportunities thus far have prevented any of his runs allowed from being truly damaging. The two allowed against Cassadaigua are the most contentious, both because they mark his most recent outing, and because a 3-0 deficit to overcome may have seen some of the subtle changes in strategy to butterfly effect out of the game-ending Al-Umar double-play, though in reality, such are largely overly twisted attempts to lay blame. He's been alternatively perfect, and deeply flawed, and with a lack of consistency, putting another arm in the slot may be best once the truly crucial moments come.4

Salvidar Vasquez: 9 IP, 1-0, 3 ER, 3.00 ERA.

After giving up three runs in an inning in his first outing against the Indios, Vasquez has been a shutdown relief man on the mound, pulling off excellent stints against the Kiwis and Cassadaigua both. His upside is well-known, as is his proclivity to injury, but with his pitching as good as it has been, there seems little reason to deny him the closing role with Stevens's inconsistencies.

Harold Rolon: 0 IP, 2 ER, Infinite ERA

In his one outing against the Kiwis, the Doctor was clearly overwhelmed, giving up two runs on five hits without recording an out before mercifully being yanked. While drawing conclusions would likely be jumping to conclusions, a pitcher who's worth has been based on extensive study of his opponents may be in over his head against international rosters with less-than-ideal information streams available.

Hostens: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA

One outing, one inning, and no runs out of Hostens. Nothing to draw conclusions from, but a good enough showing to make him a worthy choice for Browning to call on next time he needs a closer.

Well, there you have all of it, folks, all the data a fan could ever hope for. All there is to wait for now is for the numbers for the second half!

by **Schiltzberg** » Mon May 28, 2018 9:11 pm

Number 6 of 8 in sonnet sequence:

Sonnet 6

“Am I an angry Adam in my fall?”
I question in my hours of regret.
Not fruitless were your efforts, I recall.
Alas, these things I never shall forget.
You slithered on your belly to my ear,
And heavily your whispered lies were strung.
Too blind, too deaf was I to see or hear
The forking or the hissing of your tongue.
So overcome with female charm, I ate
The apple God forbid me not to eat.
Your lips commanded my low, mortal fate.
Be damned for your manipulative feat!
If sinister was serpent in the weeds,
Worse was my woman with her wretched deeds.

by **The Sherpa Empire** » Mon May 28, 2018 9:55 pm

* * * * * * * *

It took some time to disperse the crowds enough for the players to leave Chokpori Stadium. Although no violence had broken out, the police were nervous about the crowds of protesters -- particularly since the cause of the protests was related to baseball, there were groups of protesters with opposing views, and the leaders of the protests had refused an offer to disperse quietly in exchange for airtime on INN or SISN.

If it was the usual Tibetan separatists -- who had been more active than usual in recent years, but had been around for a couple of centuries -- there would have been no reason to think that they would target baseball players. Dewa Liang still had a bad reputation from when he played in Lhasa and made insensitive comments, but he had apologized, the rest of the Sherpa national baseball team had not done anything special to offend the Tibetans, and nobody had any strong feelings one way or another toward their Apikaian visitors. The World Baseball Classic organizers had put East Apikai in the same group as the Sherpa Empire, so they let the Apikaians come and play baseball, and that was as much as anybody in Lhasa had interacted with anybody from East Apikai. The hotel where the Apikaian team stayed didn't have any trouble with them beyond a little noise and a busy morning for the housekeeping staff when all the Apikaians checked out at the same time.

But Lamas fans were different than run-of-the-mill Tibetans separatists, and it made the police nervous having a crowd of them outside the stadium. Lamas fans cared about things like who played for the Icefall Doctors or who got in a stupid pissing match with Usha Chawa. Where most Tibetan separatists thought Dewa Liang was just another insensitive nationalist, the Lamas fans actually thought he was important. They also had a long-standing hatred for Anwar Sedhai, who was the Khumbu Icefall Doctors' best hitter. Finjhok Chang, who coached for the Doctors, was a less likely target, but still possible because he had gone on record arguing that SIBA's current limitations on hereditary magic were sufficient.

Eventually, Usha Chawa came out and asked the protesters to disperse, agreeing to sign autographs if people would go home once they had their autograph. Some people who weren't interested in autographs just left, once it was obvious that the protest was ending.

* * * * * * * *

On the flight to the United States of Devonta, Dewa Liang talked about his new project to provide counseling for young athletes and entertainers that struggled with the pressure of their occupations, or with overly demanding parents. Liang said his own father had been quite pushy, trying to live vicariously through him, berating him every time he was anything less than the best. The training that Liang had done trying to live up to his father's unreasonable expectations helped get him to the big leagues, but it had also made him miserable and obnoxious. He was trying to change, to become a better person and to help others learn from his struggles, but it wasn't easy to change and he still had a lot of work to do.

There were some other players on the national team who had never gotten along with Liang, and they weren't sure what to make of it now that he was talking about his problems. He did seem sincere when he said he was trying to change, but that didn't erase everyone's memory of their past conflicts.

The game in Devonta was very back and forth. Keo Norbu wasn't feeling well, so Yuri Tsang got to take his place in right field, and Tsang came out swinging in the top of the 1st, hitting a long fly ball that narrowly fell short of leaving the park and allowed him to reach 2nd base easily. He might have been able to stretch it into a triple if he was a faster runner, but he was more of a bulky power-hitter type, not quick and light on his feet, so the 3rd base coach held him at 2nd. Chawa drew a walk and Seojun batted them both in.

The Devontans made a comeback in the 3rd and 4th inning, putting them up 3 to 2. A solo homer by Chao tied it up 3 to 3, but then Fang gave up a run in the bottom of the 9th and Devonta won 4 to 3.

* * * * * * * *

It was bitterly cold in Lukla-Namche. The dugouts had to be stocked with hot tea rather than water or Gatorade, and people in the stands huddled under blankets. Ghang Tharkay could see his breath and he could hardly grip the ball because his fingers were numb from the cold. Of course, the batters he was facing all had to deal with the same biting wind and frozen fingers. Tharkay walked a few people on pitches that he thought he could have thrown for strikes if his fingers would work right. The opposing pitcher didn't seem to be having as much trouble with the cold, but he was panting to catch his breath between pitches, probably because of the high altitude. What a stupid place to put a ballpark, Tharkay thought. It was a stupid place for the capital of an empire too, but that was less of an immediate concern.

The Sherpa batters had a string of hits in the 2nd inning, ending with a grand slam by Anwar Sedhai, who had taken Chao's place in center field because Syangboche was Sedhai's home stadium and he was more acclimated to the altitude. The Quebecois had their own big inning in the 6th, and tied up the game 4 to 4. When Mohn came out to talk to Tharkay, Tharkay said through chattering teeth, "Go ahead and pull me; I can't cope with this cold anymore." Pei Tan hit a solo homer in the 8th to give the Sherpas a one run lead, and Lakpa Fang picked up the save in the 9th.

Then everyone went home to get warm, and they all hoped they would get better weather for the next game. Mohn had announced that he was planning to keep Sedhai in the line-up for the next game and to have Ihawa pitch instead of Yang, for the same reason that Sedhai had been in the starting line-up today -- because it was their home park and they were acclimated to it.

There were rumors that some of the same groups that had staged protests in Lhasa were planning to come down to Namche -- or southwest to Namche, since it wasn't really down from much of anywhere -- but they would probably go ahead with their plans regardless of who was pitching. If anything, giving Ihawa the start would discourage his ex-wife from showing up, since it might be misconstrued as supportive if she came to a game he was pitching and campaigned against a ban on blood magic.

* * * * * * * *

by **Xelsis** » Tue May 29, 2018 8:22 am

Entez Sporting Network-WBC Special

Lineup shakeups announced for WBC's second half

In a position to potentially contend for a playoff berth, or fall out of the picture entirely, wins are precious for the Xelsian squad going forward, and with games set to begin again shortly, Coach Browning announced some significant changes for the Lightning going forward.

The first, and potentially most significant, has to do with the pitching squad. After back-to-back poor outings against New Sangti and Cassadaigua, knuckleballer and #4 starter Katerina Deachrist is being reassigned to the bullpen, with Salvidar Vasquez, who has not allowed a run in either of his last two bullpen outings, will be given the starting position in her stead. Vasquez was a started in the XHL, and is qualified to take the ball for the full nine innings, but has constantly battled injuries through his career. He can be deadly when healthy, and perhaps a short "season" of the WBC is an excellent fit for him.

Browning has made some tweaks to the starting lineup as well. At third base, defensive expert Colton Li will be reassigned to the bench, having slashed a paltry .176/.236/.255 without an RBI, and while errorless at third, not, apparently to the coach, worth enough there to make up for the lack of offense. While Albert Deachrist had been brought in as a substitute at the hot corner in both of the games against Cassadaigua, going 0-9 with a hit-by-pitch, it will be utility man Sam Carhoones of the Outback League who gets the call to man the spot. Despite his own struggles, Mario Teros is being kept in at shortstop, while Garner, hitting well, is keeping second base. It is at first base, rather, that a rather unorthodox move has been made, with Team Captain Demetri Swatzkova being pulled in favor of outfielder Abdul al-Umar. Swatzkova's hitting has been under par, but his presence has been a highly-praised one, and this would mark the first time in his career that al-Umar, typically a left fielder, would play first base, with questions immediately being raised as to his competence at the position, and what Swatzkova being pulled could mean for the team.

Outside of starting changes, the pitching calendar has been adjusted as well. With the original schedule set for Harlo, Rumenoss, and then either Baker or Deachrist, now Vasquez, depending on whether the original or revised order was maintained, Rumenoss is now being put on the mound for the home outing against Cassadaigua, the third starter to attempt to take on the lineup of switch-hitters, with the hope being that his groundball style can help limit runs in the expansive Pettering Park. Teros, while starting in general, will be pulled from that game in favor of starting Albert Deachrist at shortstop, a defensive upgrade, but ineffective at the plate in his two games. With the adjustment, Vasquez will now get the second start, against the Brookspring Kiwis, with Baker following Rumenoss to take on the New Sangti Indios.

Our return to baseball is set for 15:00 local at Pettering Park against the Highton Islands team, so stay with us for all the best coverage of the WBC.

by **Nova Anglicana** » Tue May 29, 2018 10:05 am

WBC 43 Mid-Point Review

We've reached the halfway point of WBC 43, and the Nova Anglicana Lions are rolling along, experiencing more success than in previous years. Through the first half (12 games) of WBC 43, the Lions are 11-1 and won their first 11 games. Let's take a look at how it happened!

MD 1-3

The Lions' first matchup was against 43rd-ranked Humaliwo. The Waves finished 11-19 last Classic in a group headed up by Scootalove City and Banija. That result was all right for an unranked debut, but nothing terribly impressive. They did seem to be enthusiastic about it, something notably lacking this time. There has been no media coverage of even who Humaliwo sent to the Classic.

But I don't know that it would have mattered, as Damon Singleton pitched a complete game shutout, scattering six hits and two walks over nine innings while striking out 10. Singleton was masterful, blowing people away with the fastball, getting them to flail at the slider, baffling them with the change, and even dropping in a curveball every now and then. He did not allow a runner past second all game. Though there wasn't much offense, there was just enough. After a 1-2-3 first, the Humaliwo hurler ran into some trouble, walking Seth Armstrong, and we all know leadoff walks will kill you. Ryan Glover, the new right fielder, doubled into the left-field corner, putting runners at third and second for Brendan Wood, who lofted a tall fly ball to center, just deep enough for Armstrong to score. John Carr hit it hard to the right side, but a good snag by the Waves' second baseman stopped him from getting a hit. Glover did move up to third, where Max Pope singled him home. In the third, Moses Deng walked, stole second, moved up to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on Jake Bryan's sacrifice fly. Overall, the offense wasn't awful, but the story was much more about Singleton.

Game 2 saw the Lions take on unranked Holy Nazirealm. I, for one, am glad the Lions won, because losing to a team named Holy Nazirealm would have been the height of disgrace. While Darren Lawson couldn't follow Singleton's game with a shutout of his own, he limited the Nazis to seven baserunners (5 H, 2 BB) and two runs over seven innings. He struck out six and made one real mistake on the night, a hanging curve that the Nazi #7 hitter drove over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 5-2. The offense was better in this one, with Jake Bryan hitting an oppo-taco solo shot to left with two outs in the 4th to open the scoring. The Lions tacked on in the 5th when Glover walked and Wood and Carr hit back-to-back singles. Max Pope hit a sac fly to make it 2-0, but when Lawson struck out, it seriously looked like the Lions might only get one run out of a bases-loaded, no-outs situation. But Moses Deng drew a walk on the 10th pitch of his at-bat, and Michael Holt grounded one through the right side to score both Wood and Carr, making it 4-0. Seth Armstrong would lead off the 5th with a 428-foot shot to center that finished off the scoring. With a 5-2 lead, Casey Burke and closer Nick Christensen pitched two perfect innings to end the game.

The Lions had a bye on MD3.

MD 4-6

Matchday 4 would be a game against 24th-ranked Vangaziland. The Vannish team is the second-highest ranked team in the group, and the Lions' chief rival for a playoff spot. They were coming off a 6-5 loss to Holy Nazirealm, a game in which they surrendered a 4-0 lead. Their offense was working in their first three games, scoring 6 runs against United States of Yasser, 15(!) against Humaliwo, and 5 against Holy Nazirealm, providing a contrast to the pitching and defense of Nova Anglicana. The game was played more on Vannish terms, with the final score being 9-6. Ben Clayton struggled to settle in, giving up five hits, three walks, and three runs in the first three innings, but the Lions picked him up in the 4th. A two-run single by Armstrong off the Vannish hurler Orlando Encarnación made it 3-2, and Brendan Wood hit a two-out triple to tie the game at 3. The Lions took the lead in the 6th on a solo homer by Ryan Glover, but Clayton gave it back in the bottom of the 7th when Chuck Endo hit a solo home run. Clayton would finish with a line of 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R/ER, 3 BB, 8 K. Armstrong would double in two runs in the 8th, but Casey Burke gave up a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to tie the score back at 6. Carr and Pope would work back-to-back walks against Daniel Cortez, and rookie Matthew Gilbert hit an RBI single, but was tagged out trying to stretch it into a double. So with one out, one run in, and a runner on third, Moses Deng struck out, but Holt hit a bomb to left, making it 9-6, and Nick Christensen closed it out in the bottom of the 9th.

Unranked United States of Yasser would be the Lions' opponent on Matchday 5, and though the offense dropped off (4 runs to las game's 9), the pitching was much better as Nate McLaughlin and three relievers combined to limit their foes to 8 baserunners (6 H, 2 BB) and two runs in the game. McLaughlin has both an excellent curveball and a sweeping slider to trick lefties, and a changeup that baffles righties. His skills were on display, as he struck out 12 in just six innings of work. He did allow a two-run homer to the Yasserian cleanup hitter in the 4th, only the second hit and third baserunner he had allowed to that point. On the offensive side, Jake Bryan had hit a two-run homer in the first, and Max Pope singled home Brendan Wood in the 2nd to make it 3-0. Bryan hit a leadoff jack in the 8th to extend the lead to 4-2, his second of the game and third of the Classic. With McLaughlin having thrown 98 pitches through six, manager Orlando Murray elected to lift him and get his relievers some work, since only Casey Burke and closer Nick Christensen had appeared at that point. McLaughlin finished with a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 12 K. Rookie Charlie Bowers pitched the 7th, allowing a leadoff single, but then striking out the side. Matthew Drake gave up a hit and a walk to start the 8th, causing lefty rookie Clay Wilkerson to get loose in the 'pen, but Drake induced a double play on the next pitch and then struck out the next batter to end the threat. In the 9th, Christensen appeared for his third save opportunity, and got a weak grounder, an infield pop-up, and powered three straight 98 MPH fastballs past the overmatched Yasserian hitter for the final out of the game.

Matchday 6 saw the Lions' first rematch, against the Waves of Humaliwo. Humaliwo would see a different pitcher this time, 5th starter Damian Ryan, and they were glad to have missed Damon Singleton. Although they only scored two runs off Ryan, it was two more than they scored off Singleton. A solo homer in the first and a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a grounder to the right side, and a single scored another run in the 3rd for the Waves. Ryan would finish with a line of 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 7 K. Seth Armstrong had tied the score at one in the 2nd with his 2nd homer of the Classic, but the Lions trailed 2-1 until the bottom of the 5th. The bottom of the order got things started, as John Carr coaxed an eight-pitch walk from the Humaliwo man on the mound and Max Pope singled to right. Ryan successfully sacrificed the runners to third and second and with one out, Moses Deng hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 2. With two outs and Pope on second, Michael Holt doubled to left-center, scoring Pope and giving the Lions a 3-2 lead. In the 7th, the bottom of the order was back at it again, with Pope singling to left for his first multi-hit game of the Classic. Pinch-hitter and backup catcher Trevor Goodwin raked one just inside the line on the first base side, sending him to second and Pope to third. The Humaliwo hurler bore down and got Deng to hit a comebacker for the second out of the inning, but Holt hit a grounder up the middle and barely beat out the throw from the second baseman to score Pope and make it 4-2. The Waves struck back with an RBI single in the 8th against Lee Bradley to make it 4-3, but Christensen worked his third straight game and struck out two for his fourth save and the fifth Lions win.

MD 7-9

Matchday 7 was a rematch with Holy Nazirealm. It was a bit tighter this time around, as the Lions barely squeaked by their Nazi opponents 2-1. Damon Singleton turned in another excellent performance, pitching into the 9th inning and allowing only one run. Seth Armstrong doubled in two runs, his 7th and 8th of the Classic in the first for the only two runs for the Lions. The Nazi pitcher ended the day with a line of 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 K, and the three Nazi relievers pitched three perfect innings, striking out three. But where the Lions had a tough time on offense, Singleton picked them up with his pitching. A solo homer in the 6th was the only blemish on his record and up to the 9th inning, he had only allowed three baserunners. He struck out the first hitter in the 9th, but allowed a double to the #2 hitter. At that point, manager Orlando Murray signaled to his bullpen. Closer Nick Christensen was apparently clamoring to be put into the game, but with only a one-run lead and Christensen having pitched on back-to-back-to-back days, Murray waved for setup man Casey Burke. Burke had pitched two innings, a perfect one, and one in which he gave up a two-run homer, so it was a tense affair when he entered the game. He pumped two fastballs to the #3 hitter to get him down 0-2, then put him away with his signature changeup. That three-pitch K caused a sigh of relief throughout the Lions' dugout, but the game wasn't over yet. With a runner on second and two outs, the Nazi cleanup hitter stepped to the plate. Burke surprised him with a first-pitch curve and stole a strike. Pitch #2 was 95 in on the hands for ball one. Pitch #3 was 95 a bit high for ball two. Burke tried a 2-1 curveball, which the Nazi hitter fouled back for strike two. Another fastball high, and it was 3-2. The sixth and final pitch of the at-bat was a changeup, fading down and away, and the burly cleanup hitter lunged at it and missed to end the game and keep the Lions' record perfect at 6-0. Singleton's line after the game stood at 17.1 IP through 2 games, with an 0.52 ERA, an 0.69 WHIP, and 18 Ks against just 3 BBs, a very impressive tally.

The Lions had a bye on Matchday 8.

Even with an extra day of rest, Lions hurler Darren Lawson didn't have his best stuff for Vangaziland on Matchday 9. Fortunately, the offense picked him up. It was another high-scoring affair against their Vannish opponents. The Lions won the first game 9-6, and took this one 10-8. Lawson walked the first two batters of the game, and surrendered a grand slam to the #5 hitter, putting the Lions down 4-0 with only one out. He recovered to retire the next five batters in a row, but another couple of walks and hits pushed across two more Vannish runs and made it 6-0 going into the bottom of the 4th. To that point, Orlando Encarnación had pitched three perfect innings, retiring nine Lions hitters in a row. But the floodgates burst in the 4th. Moses Deng drew a leadoff walk and Michael Holt broke up the no-hitter with a single to left. Encarnación then hit Bryan with a pitch to load the bases. Unfortunately, all Seth Armstrong could manage was a sacrifice fly, making it 6-1. Ryan Glover and Brendan Wood then hit back-to-back doubles, scoring Holt and then Bryan and Glover, cutting the deficit to 6-4. John Carr walked and Max Pope hit a sharp single to left, loading the bases and prompting a mound visit from pitching coach Juan Manuel Sanchez. The 19 year-old Encarnación would face another young star, the 21 year-old switch-hitter Matthew Gilbert. Gilbert, batting from the right side, drove a 3-1 fastball 388 feet into the seats in left for a grand slam and an 8-6 lead, ending Encarnación's night. Reliever Juan Secada would retire Deng and Holt as part of a vital scoreless 2.2 innings in the middle of the game. Amazingly, despite his poor performance, had Lawson not been lifted for a pinch-hitter and pitched the 5th, he would have been in line for the win. Instead, Thomas Wagner came in and surrendered a single run over his two innings pitched, narrowing the lead to 8-7. Starter-turned-reliever for the Classic Wyatt Templeton came in and struck out the side in the 7th, his first pitching experience of the Classic. Despite the fact that manager Orlando Murray had said he wanted to use Templeton as a multi-inning fireman, he would only pitch the one inning and lefty specialist Ricky Bass would come on to face the first two batters of the 8th. After striking out Braden Okogan, Bass surrendered a game-tying homer to Mack Akoye. This prompted Clay Wilkerson to come on, and Wilkerson successfully retired the next two batters. In the bottom of the 8th, Wood singled to lead off the inning, and Carr drew a walk. Pope struck out, but on came Chris Townsend to pinch-hit. Townsend slashed an opposite field hit to left to load the bases, and Moses Deng then popped up, prompting fears of the Lions wasting this opportunity. But Holt hit a sharp liner to center that scored Wood, and Bryan slashed a grounder past the third baseman to score Carr. Only a strong throw from the Vannish left fielder prevented Townsend from scoring as well. Nick Christensen came on raring to go, and after hitting the first batter, settled down to strike out two and earn his fifth save.

MD 10-12

United States of Yasser, at 3-4 to the Lions' 7-0, would be the opponent on Matchday 10. The Lions won 4-2 in their first matchup against this team, but matched that total in the first four innings in the second game and they would end up 9-6 victors. Max Pope opened the scoring in the 3rd with a solo homer that just cleared the wall in left. After Ben Clayton struck out, Moses Deng singled and stole second, scoring on Michael Holt's RBI single. Jake Bryan then crushed a ball into the right-center field gap that kicked off the wall and away from the fielders, allowing Holt to score and Bryan to record his first international triple. The Yasserian hurler settled down to retire Seth Armstrong and Ryan Glover, but Brendan Wood hit a homer to straightaway center in the 4th to make it 4-0. Clayton, who had retired the first nine batters in order, then ran into trouble in the bottom of the 4th and only barely escaped with two runs allowed. The Lions struck back in the 5th when Bryan hit a two-run homer to right, scoring Deng and giving him a team-leading four homers for the Classic. But that 6-2 lead would vanish in the bottom of the 5th, as Clayton struck out the first two batters, then walked the leadoff man. The #2 hitter singled, the #3 hitter walked, and the cleanup hitter hit a two-run double. The #5 hitter doubled in both runs, and Orlando Murray signaled to his bullpen. Wyatt Templeton came on and showed his stuff, striking out the #6 hitter and then striking out two of the three batters he faced in the 6th. Through 2.1 innings, Templeton has six strikeouts, with just one retired through a non-strikeout. Matthew Drake pitched a scoreless 7th, and Jake Bryan doubled, Seth Armstrong doubled him home, and Ryan Glover hit a two-run homer to bring Armstrong home and give the Lions a 9-6 in the 8th. Lee Bradley pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th to earn his first save of the Classic and the Lions their 8th win.

Humaliwo was the Lions' Matchday 11 opponent, and they gave them a real scare. Nate McLaughlin pitched a competent six innings, giving up just two runs on five hits and two walks, but the Humaliwo hurler was better. For the first seven innings, he did not allow a hit, and the only baserunners he allowed were two walks and a hit batsman. But in the 8th, as they had been doing throughout the Classic, the bottom of the order came through. John Carr took the first pitch he saw and lined it over the shortstop's head to break up the no-hitter. Max Pope singled as well, and perhaps rattled, the Humaliwo pitcher walked Marc Dufors, who was pinch-hitting for Charlie Bowers, who had pitched a scoreless 7th. This was the last straw for the manager, who pulled him for a reliever. The flame-throwing reliever struck out Moses Deng and Michael Holt, and it looked like the rally might die. But Jake Bryan doubled in two runs and Seth Armstrong turned around a 96 MPH fastball and deposited it into the seats in right, making it 5-2. Casey Burke pitched a scoreless 8th, and Matthew Gilbert singled home Brendan Wood for an insurance run in the 9th. Clay Wilkerson gave up a run in the 9th, but he got three outs and the Lions got their 9th win.

Another game against Holy Nazirealm on Matchday 12, another 2-1 win. Damian Ryan looked stellar in his seven innings of work, his only mistake a 3-1 fastball to the Nazi #2 hitter in the 6th, which was actually the first hit he had allowed that game. He left for a pinch-hitter, finishing with a line of 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 9 K. As good as Ryan was, the Nazi hurler was just as good, allowing just a single run in 5 innings, his only mistake a 2-0 fastball to Jake Bryan in the first. Matthew Drake pitched a scoreless 8th, and Nick Christensen followed that with a scoreless 9th, but the score was still 1-1. Seth Armstrong, Ryan Glover, and Brendan Wood would be the batters in the bottom of the 9th. Armstrong went down swinging, but Glover walked and Wood singled to right. John Carr couldn't drive in Glover, but he did hit a ball deep to right-center, allowing Glover to move up to third. In many other ballparks, Carr would have hit a walk-off three-run homer, but not in Archbishop's 421-foot right-center field gap. But Max Pope fought off a tough 1-2 pitch in on the hands to fist it into left for a single, scoring Glover, winning the game, and earning himself a well-deserved Gatorade bath. 10-0 couldn't have felt any sweeter.

MD 13-15

The Lions had a bye on Matchday 13.

Vangaziland, a surprising 4-7 going into Matchday 14, was the Lions' opponent that day. And they had the bad luck to run into Damon Singleton, who is just pitching out of this world. Singleton gave up a hit and a walk in the first inning, but retired the last batter of the 1st and then the next 24 batters, pitching his second complete game shutout of the Classic. His first inning pitch total was 17, but then his pitch totals were 10, 8, 9, 10, 9, 8, 12, and 8. Pitching a complete game shutout in less than 100 pitches is referred to as a "Maddux", after the great (and efficient) Greg Maddux of the USA's MLB Atlanta Braves. Singleton employed a more pitch-to-contact approach in this game than in his two previous starts, but the Vannish hitters couldn't get anything going and it ended up being about as restful as a complete game can be. Singleton's final line was 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Through three games, he has pitched 26.1 innings, allowing just 10 hits, 4 walks, and 1 run against 24 strikeouts. That's good for an ERA of 0.34 and a whip of 0.53, just incomprehensible numbers against international competition. The other good news about this game is that the Lions' bats finally woke up enough to make the game not a nail-biter at the end. The Lions hadn't won a game by more than three runs in the Classic, but they put up eleven in this game. Solo homers by Ryan Glover and Brendan Wood sandwiched around a two-run double from Seth Armstrong put the Lions up 4-0 through five and a half, but it was the 8th and 9th that turned this game into a laugher. In the 8th, Armstrong walked and Glover singled. After Brendan Wood struck out and John Carr grounded into a fielder's choice, Max Pope singled home Armstrong and backup catcher Chris Floyd hit a three-run homer, making it an 8-0 game. In the 9th, Armstrong hit his 4th homer of the Classic, a three-run job that made it 11-0 and gave him a team-leading 16 RBI. It was a breath of fresh air for a team that had been living on just enough hitting to survive.

But all good things must come to an end, and the Lions' 11-game winning streak came to an end against United States of Yasser on Matchday 15. Darren Lawson struggled early, and though he managed to gut out 5 innings and save the bullpen somewhat, he allowed five runs and the Lions trailed 5-4 after 5 innings. Lawson started off with a strong 7 IP, 2 R start, but has followed that with clunkers of 4 IP, 6 R and 5 IP, 5 R. He now sports a 7.31 ERA through three starts and will look to bounce back in the second half. The Lions did rally to tie the score on a Brendan Wood single in the 7th, but they couldn't keep it tied. Thomas Wagner pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th and Charlie Bowers and Ricky Bass got three outs in the 8th. In a tie game, Casey Burke gave up a solo homer that made it 6-5 and the Lions went down 1-2-3 in the 9th for their first loss.

The Lions probably couldn't have had a better first half, realistically, and they will look to continue their success in the second half. Ben Clayton is slated to start against Humaliwo, and you have to hope he'll pitch better with some extra rest. Clayton has been shaky, with a 7.71 ERA through two starts. But Humaliwo is on the bottom of the group with a 3-9 record and only scoring 3.3 runs a game, so maybe a struggling team will be just what the doctor ordered. However the second half shakes out, the Lions are in good shape after the first half.

by **Free Republics** » Tue May 29, 2018 1:44 pm

El Fierro, Malifornia Charter Society

A few days after the WBC game at Salvation Park, the Free Republics were playing Darmen and Sarah Fuerst was sitting in her room at her family's home, waiting for Elio Lucchese to arrive. She was so excited that Elio was finally going to visit her. While she waited, the game started and "Wild" Ralph Fiedler quickly put the Republicans in a major hole by walking 2 batters and beaning another to lead the bases with nobody out in the second inning. Toviyyah Sherman would promptly launch a line drive that somehow barely made it over the MingleDome fence. Elio would arrive just minutes after that second inning grand slam but both of them quickly lost interest in the ballgame which saw Darmeni ace Marc Moore putting together a performance that was worthy of an ace, holding the Republicans to a single run in 7 innings of work.

Sarah Fuerst - I was just wondering: What do you really think about the Salvation Circle?

Elio Lucchese - Well... ... The Salvation Circle is the one true path to salv-

Sarah Fuerst - You don't really believe that, do you? No need to worry. Even if my mom hears you, she's not going to tell on you!

Elio Lucchese - Of course, I don't believe in any of that crap. All I've ever wanted is to have fun and be a normal kid but I have to pretend like I'm this perfect little Christian who does whatever the Circle tells me to do.

Sarah Fuerst - I thought so. You hate this shitty "Charter Society" as much as I do!

Elio Lucchese - Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the privileges that come from being a member of such a powerful family and I do like my family at a personal level but the society my father and his associates are creating is a terrible place to live.

Sarah Fuerst - Yes, it is. Of course, the old Progressive movement was nuts in a few ways of its own. I don't see why they felt the need to impose their beliefs upon the wider Free Republics by force and I wish I'd been able to talk my father out of fighting on behalf of that stupid rebellion.

Elio Lucchese - Its so sad that adults feel the need to impose their beliefs upon each other. Why can't we all just get along and let everybody live however they want to?

Sarah Fuerst - I've heard that Consul Nicholls created the Charter Societies to keep the crazies from taking over the national government ever again.

Elio Lucchese - That is my understanding as well but my father says we're supposed to be a "City on a Hill" that sets an example for the other Republics and leads to their eventual conversion to the Circle.

Sarah Fuerst - Do you remember when we were in elementary school and were taught that our nation was the Holy Republican Empire, not the Free Republics?

Elio Lucchese - How could I forget that? I remember when Consul Piazza was shot and then a few days later my father converted to the Church of Saintland and joined the Holy Party.

Sarah Fuerst - Your father was part of the Holy Party?

Elio Lucchese - Yeah, I remember how he came home one night and announced to the entire family that he'd found God and how all of us were now going to convert to the True Church. Mom was upset at first but she eventually went along.

Sarah Fuerst - Does she still harbor any doubts?

Elio Lucchese - Oh God no. All of her friends now are within the Circle so she's now every bit as "pious" as Dad and expects the same amount of piety out of us.

Sarah Fuerst - That's so sad. How could she believe in something that she knows is false just because her friends do?

Elio Lucchese - That's just the way people are, I guess. You can't tell me you haven't done something you didn't want to do in the past just because all of your friends were doing it too!

Sarah Fuerst - Well, I guess you've got a point! I remember a party a few years ago where things got a bit wild and I made a decision I regret. Fortunately, I didn't actually have sex or anything but I let some random guy I didn't know very well touch me in appropriate places just to show everybody how "cool" I was.

Elio Lucchese - That's horrible. If I ever ask you to do something you're uncomfortable with, please tell me. I won't mind.

Sarah Fuerst - Don't worry about it. We probably can't do anything like that anyway.

Elio Lucchese - Of course not. If you turned up pregnant, they'd probably throw you in a Magdalene home and I couldn't live with myself if that happened because of me.

Sarah Fuerst - Yeah, this society is really fucked up.

Elio Lucchese - That's why I want to go to college outside of Malifornia.

Sarah Fuerst - But if you do that, that means we won't be able to see each other anymore. There's no way the Salvation Circle would allow me to attend college.

Elio Lucchese - You're right about that. You'd have to leave Malifornia and then apply to schools.

Sarah Fuerst - Well, I could always try the longshot of contacting Honomi Kamei, hoping she remembers me and trying to get a tryout with the Republica Vipers. But I'm probably not going to be any good after several years away from baseball.

Elio Lucchese - That's a very real problem and you certainly can't play in secret anywhere in Malifornia. The Circle's eyes and ears are everywhere and if they catch a "young lady" like you participating in "unladylike" sports, God help you.

Sarah Fuerst - Its so unfair that these old men think they can just wreck our lives in the name of their stupid God!

Elio Lucchese - Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about it other than play along in public and wait until we grow up and have the chance to get out of this hellhole.

Sarah Fuerst - I've tried to rebel against it as much as I can get away with but I'm not sure if that's a good idea anymore given our relationship.

Elio Lucchese - It could make me look bad if I'm dating a girl who is rebelling against the Circle but that's actually what I like best about you. Its great that you haven't allowed them to break your spirit yet but I guess you probably should "behave" yourself in public since it makes me look bad if I'm clearly dating you and yet haven't "tamed" your rebellious side.

Sarah Fuerst - Then I guess I'll pretend for your sake.

Elio Lucchese - We've only got another year left of school so it won't be long before we both leave Malifornia.

Sarah Fuerst - Well, looks like Darmen just won that one.

Elio Lucchese - Isn't that the same pitcher who started the game for them?

Sarah Fuerst - Yeah, it is. I think that's their ace.

Elio Lucchese - Well, he definitely pitched like it. Amazing, isn't it, how quickly time flies by.

Sarah Fuerst - I can't believe we've been talking for a few hours without even paying attention to the game.

Elio Lucchese - Well, there's no reason why we can't hang out a bit longer. Its only 8:47. I don't have to be home until 11.

Sarah Fuerst - Ever played Front Office Baseball?

Elio Lucchese - No, I'm afraid I haven't.

Sarah Fuerst - Then let me show you how to play. If you have a computer, I can send you a copy. Oh wait, you probably aren't running Perestroika.

Elio Lucchese - No, I'm not. My parents have always sworn by Doors.

Sarah Fuerst - I guess that's not surprising. RepublicSoft lost quite a bit of popularity because of their close ties to the Kulseth regime but if your parents enthusiastically supported Kulseth that's not going to have scared them away from it.

Elio Lucchese - Isn't Perestroika one of those open-source operating systems?

Sarah Fuerst - Yes. Its source code is audited by many of the best programmers in the Free Republics to ensure that it has no security holes. Do you want a copy?

Elio Lucchese - I'd love to have one but I can't install this. My parents would find out and then I'd have to answer some uncomfortable questions.

Sarah Fuerst - You don't actually have to install Perestroika to run it. All you need is a 512 billionbyte thumb drive and you can boot into Perestroika from any computer without leaving any record of your activities on that machine. Actually, you can even use a smaller drive but you'll want the extra space because 256 billionbytes just isn't enough space.

Elio Lucchese - How do you know so much about computers, Sarah?

Sarah Fuerst - Well, I've been obsessed with them all my life and I've even written a few programs of my own.

Elio Lucchese - I never would have guessed that you were smarter than you let on at school.

Sarah Fuerst - I was a straight-A student until the Salvation Circle came along and I stopped giving a shit. Why should I try in school when they're never going to let me be anything more than a baby factory?

Elio Lucchese - Because the fact that you don't apply yourself in school helps the Circle rationalize its mistreatment of women. I've heard leaders of the Circle defend their policies on the grounds that the average grade point average for boys is around a full point higher than the average for girls at Salvation Circle-run schools.

Sarah Fuerst - That's what happens when you tell us we're good for nothing other than housework and popping out kids. We just stop trying because what's the point.

Elio Lucchese - And then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and the Salvation Circle uses the supposed "inferiority" of women, as "proven" by the poor performance of girls in school, as a reason for depriving women of opportunities to be anything more than housewives.

Sarah Fuerst - Why does everything have to be so fucked up?

Elio Lucchese - I don't know. I don't even understand why the Salvation Circle is willing to create a living hell in the vain hope that doing so will make the next life better. Its just such a ridiculous belief system.

Sarah Fuerst - You think? By the way, you never answered my question.

Elio Lucchese - I'd love to have my own copy of Perestroika and Front Office Baseball.

Sarah Fuerst - Do you have a thumbdrive on you?

Elio Lucchese - No but I'll go get one right now.

Sarah Fuerst - That's probably not a good idea because we're short on time. How about you pick one up after church tomorrow instead? We'll have pretty much the entire rest of the day to hang out.

Elio Lucchese - That'd be great but all stores are now closed on the sabbath by order of Father Lavallee.

Sarah Fuerst - Shit, I forgot about that. What a stupid law!

Elio Lucchese - Then, it looks like I need to go pick it up tonight.

Sarah Fuerst - Yeah, otherwise we'll have to wait a few days and I'm sure you'd like to be able to use a computer freely.

Elio Lucchese - Yes, I would.

Sarah Fuerst - That's great! Should I pre-install the software needed to bypass the Firewall and get an uncensored connection?

Elio Lucchese - Yes, please do.

Sarah Fuerst - By any chance, do you have a laptop?

Elio Lucchese - Would that cause any problems with the thumbdrive?

Sarah Fuerst - No, it won't, but it would make it easier for you to use Perestroika without your parents accidentally walking in on you and catching you.

Elio Lucchese - That's great then because my brother Luigi just bought a new laptop and he wants to get rid of his old one.

Sarah Fuerst - That'd be perfect for you.

Elio Lucchese - It would be. Plus it'd make it easier for me to justify spending more time at your place if my parents know I'm not neglecting my schoolwork.

Sarah Fuerst - That's even better.

Elio Lucchese - I feel so much freer here than I ever have at home so I'd love to be here as much as possible.

Sarah Fuerst - I'm fine with that. Maybe they'll even let you sleep over at some point.

Elio Lucchese - I doubt that but if you continue to come across to them as the perfect Christian girl, maybe they'll feel more comfortable with it. For the moment though, they'd probably feel like we were escalating things too fast and begin to suspect that we were having sex.

Sarah Fuerst - We can't let them think that. If they do, they'll split us up for sure!

Elio Lucchese - I'm not going to let that happen. Well, look at the time! I need to get to the store quickly.

Sarah Fuerst - I'll see you later then.

Elio Lucchese - Yeah, I'll see ya in a few.

Elio would go to the local AllMart, purchase a 512 billionbyte thumbdrive and return to his girlfriend's house to give it to her. After spending a few more minutes together, they said their goodbyes for the night. The two of them had quite a bit to think about but, for the moment, baseball wasn't at the forefront of either of their minds.

by **Newmanistan** » Tue May 29, 2018 3:48 pm

THE ROCKET REPORT

MIDWAY THROUGH

by Taylor Larson,

We have reached the halfway point of the group stage, and not surprisingly, the Rockets are dominating the group. It’s refreshing to see that though, even if we did expect it because we did underachieve in the last Classic, and things do not always go according to plan. The good news is that they have remained healthy, and Courtney Duvall has been simply dominant, meaning there is no reason to worry about her, either. A particular hot topic has been Kayla Carey and where she will be going this off-season. A source who is close to Kayla’s agent suggested that she is considering several offers right now and could be leaning towards becoming our highest profile player to actually leave the ENBL to play overseas. That won’t be good news for fans of North Charlotte, but at least it would mean that they wouldn’t have root against her in another uniform within the league. The best offer the Wildcats have been willing to give her, I am told, is $21.6 million per year, and that simply is not going to cut it. We will hear more about Kayla in the next few days, I am sure, but now let’s take you through the field and see how the other groups are shaping up. There are 75 teams in this tournament, so there is a lot going on.

Group 1 sees Scootalove City, the #2-team in the world locked in a tie with Krossa, with records of 8-4. The Unicorns have been on the up and up with every classic, so perhaps they were due for one that was not quite as good. This is a prime example of why we should not take the Rockets 11-1 start for granted. The Scootalove City media has had some transmission difficulties, so hopefully they get that figured out in a few days, and the team is able to get back on track.

In Group 2, Banija and Lycrabon, as most people expected are at the top of the group, and this is another group where 8-4 sees a tie up top. Third place North Prarie, at 5-7, is not one to rule out though, they just need some consistency. We’ve heard that they were not too happy with a recent defeat, so hopefully they can make amends for that to keep their fans happy.

South Covello got off to a quick start in Group 3, but has since tailed off, and as that has happened, Ko-oren has slipped into the group lead with a 9-3 record. Ko-oren has been around a while, but I am not sure if they have ever played better baseball then they have so far in this Classic. This is definitely a team to watch. I also like the team story around USS Monitor, and they’ve shown tremendous chemistry with one another so far.

Group 4 has not seen a lot of people talking about it. You will be hard pressed to find media releases from any of the five teams. This is another group with a tie at the top as Equestrian States and New Jarwel have 8-4 records. The Ponies may be thinking about the World Cup right now, but perhaps when that is done we will see more baseball coverage.

Super-Llamaland is in full control of group 5. The other five-time champions have been methodically going at it, and getting the results that you would expect. They are 10-2, but seem to have tougher group opposition then we do. That opposition is in the form of Northwest Kalactin and newcomer Beepee, who are both 7-5. This could be a group that gets one of those two wild cards after the top two spots. I am a big fan, by the way, of Homer Unn’s one-liners with Beepee.

In Group 6, it’s all about Cassadaigua. The Dagans lead the group with a 10-2 record, but they have pretty good challenge in the form of 8-4 Xelsis, perhaps the most impressive of any of the first time teams thus far. New Sangti was supposed to be the second place team here, but they have been pretty quiet, and that may be at their own peril. Xelsis, by the way, is 0-3 against the Dagans and an impressive 8-1 versus the rest of the group.

I don’t know what got into the Free Republics, but they are soaring right now in Group 7. Perhaps after successfully hosting the last Classic, this team has additional motivation and it is showing. They’ve never been as strong in this, as they have been in other tournaments, so their 10-2 record is an eye-opener. Darmen has not followed up their great year, and are just 6-6, and could be in jeopardy of being passed by 5-7 Midand, a first time nation showing some ability.

Nova Anglicana is dominating Group 8 with an 11-1 record. Yeah, we’ve heard this story before. Wait to the playoffs! None of the other nations are posing a challenge here, perhaps Vangaziland was supposed to be that country, but it has not panned out that way.

Group 9 is led by Drawkland at 9-3, and this is another case of a nation that is known for a lot of success in other sports having one of their best baseball qualifying starts in recent memory. They better finish this off though, because Saintland and Maklohi Vai, both 7-5, are within striking range and have been very successful in the past.

In Group 10, The Sherpa Empire, definitely an exciting nation to watch, is in a tie with Royal Kingdom of Quebec for the top spot at 8-4. There’s room for both of them, and we should not be surprised to see Quebec do so well in the tournament given some of their top players play in the ENBL. Oscioru is lingering in third with a 6-6 record, while United States of Devonta has been a disappoitment.

In group 11, we see Abanhfleft with a strong start. At 10-2, this is another one of those nations really stepping up this year and playing the best that I remember seeing them. We know they have championship capability in other sports, so it is good to see them rising to the occasion like this. Bauscland, not a first timer, but still unranked, is looking sharp at 8-4. Cosumar has been a non-factor so far.

You know what’s going on in Group 12, so moving to Group 13, we see the poets of Schiltzberg leading the way with an 11-1 record. They’ve been stuck on four titles for a while now, at least by their standards when thinking about how quickly they got the first four. They are definitely a contender, and are playing like that. Liventia came back this year, glad to see that. At 7-5, they a solid second over a bunch of puppets.

Group 14 sees West Phoenicia going about their business pretty well, and taking a hold of the group lead with a 9-3 record. You can probably call it a typical Confederate qualifying effort, but the nation will be looking to go on a long playoff run, as they did in back to back Classics not too long ago. Second place is up for grabs, it seems.

Finally, Group 15 sees the Alpine Union in control with a 9-3 record, leading second place Ethane by two games. We expected these two to be in the top two spots, and that is exactly what is happening. I simply cannot see any of the other teams in the group messing that up, but Alpine Union and Ethane will certainly both want the top spot.

by **Liventia** » Tue May 29, 2018 4:06 pm

Red-and-Gold aiming for better second half after 7–5 start

PORT CARTFORT— Eight wins.

That's the target Liventia have been set by manager Adam Darwin as the Red-and-Gold prepare for the second half of the World Baseball Classic group stage.

The team sit second in Group 13 after a 7–5 first half, but are only two games ahead of Juvencus. They are four games behind runaway group leaders Schiltzberg, who are 11–1 and have won all three contests against Liventia so far.

"The aim is 8–4 ball for the last 12 games," Darwin said. "That includes a win against Schiltzberg, it's a big goal of ours.

"It won't be easy as we play them on the road twice and home just once, but we'll give it our best shot."

Darwin is boosted by the return of third starter Francis Delamere, who was injured early in the tournament after just 2.2 innings in the team's third game.

In his absence, young reliever Frank Kenley had been promoted to start, suffering a loss to Juvencus to go with an earlier no-decision against Pripet Socialist Republic.

Kenley will stay in the rotation, however, with Delamere slotting back into his position as part of what will be a six-man rotation going forward.

That adjustment means Delamere and pitching ace Tyler Newitt will take the mound in two of the remaining three games against Schiltzberg, in line with Darwin's aim of claiming a famous win.

Changes are also likely in the starting lineup.

Daniel Hookway has won a permanent spot in at number five in the order, replacing Lucas Dumbrill in left field.

Designated hitter Devin James has been pegged to start at first base in the remaining games without the DH, with Henry Woodings benched in those matches after showing no signs of improving on his strikeout rate.

The projected rotation for the remaining games is as follows:
MD16 v Valliesta (Port Cartfort Park, DH used): Patrick Rider
MD17 @ Pripet Socialist Republic: Francis Delamere
MD18 v Juvencus (Orean Capital Grounds, no DH): Kieran Sheldon
MD19 @ Schiltzberg: Oscar Stable
MD21 @ Valliesta: Frank Kenley
MD22 v Pripet SR (Port Cartfort): Tyler Newitt
MD23 @ Juvencus: Patrick Rider
MD24 v Schiltzberg (Orean): Francis Delamere
MD26 v Valliesta (Port Cartfort): Kieran Sheldon
MD27 @ Pripet SR: Oscar Stable
MD28 v Juvencus (Port Cartfort): Frank Kenley
MD29 @ Schiltzberg: Tyler Newitt

(OOC: My roster post has been edited to reflect the changes in rotation and lineup)

by **Ethane** » Tue May 29, 2018 4:59 pm

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A Lot Of Work Needed To Top Group
by Andrew Davis

At the half-way point of the 43rd World Baseball Classic Group Stages, the Red Kites still have a lot of work to do if they want to top group 15.

It has been an eventful first half to the group stages of the World Baseball Classic, and one which has seen the Alpine Union and Ethane assert themselves aas the top 2 contenders in group 15, most likely of the 5 teams to head through to the round of 32 - an oddity in this tournament but one which leaves a much greater chance for success.

The Red Kites, donned in their purple and red-trimmed kits, have found themselves wanting slightly, but not performing terribly to the point of not progressing. Over 12 games, the team that hails from Ethane has won 7 games but lost 5. This has left them in second place in the group when the aspiration was only ever to finish first. The team haven't disappointed as such on the whole, but they have had their fair share of disappointing results throughout the groups.

There are a few issues the Red Kites will have to solve if they want to finish top of their group, especially considering the 6 point deficit to the Alpine Union in first place. However, at this stage it is still in their hands; they don't need to rely on the other team losing games yet to top the group as every team plays each other 6 times, leaving 3 fixtures against the Alpine Union left, meaning there is still enough points left to make up that deficit.

The main issue that the Ethanian team have to contend with is their record against The Alpine Union. They need to take a long, hard look at the tactics they used throughout the first half of this group campaign and see where they went wrong so they can go into this remaining 12 games, but most particularly the 3 games remaining against the Alpine Union, with the determination but also the tactics to deliver victory.

Over the past 12 matches, the Red Kites have played against The Alpine Union 3 times and lost all 3 matches, with none of them really even that tight. The closest chance Ethane had to beat them was their 5-3 loss against The Alpine Union in their first match, but results seem to have deteriorated since that first match, with their most recent matchup an 11-3 blowout by The Alpine Union. If results like this carry on into the second half of this group campaign, then the Red Kites won't be anywhere near finishing in the top spot and will instead have to be worrying about the next place team overtaking them.

The other problem is more to do with how they win games, and that stems back to their runs for and against total. While the runs for number isn't atrocious at 58, it is a far cry from what the team have accomplished before and a long way behind The Alpine Union on 79 runs for. However, the run differential is only at +1, lower than last-placed Anthor, who have a run differential of +2, showing the quality within that team. Blame can be put on the runs against total, which currently stands at 57 runs against - the worst record in the top 2 teams in each group, tied with Krossa and the Free Republics.

This is a pretty awful record to have and shows the problems the team has had with pitching this tournament, as they have been unable to stem the flow of home runs in the tournament so far. This can be shown in the 11-3 loss to The Alpine Union, but most recently the 10-8 loss to Mezropolis in the Red Kites' most recent match. 8 runs is a totally respectable score, and one that should be enough to win games of baseball, but an undisciplined Ethanian side allowed a flurry of run-scoring innings from the 5th through to the 9th inning to hand Mezropolis the victory. Without tackling this the team should be looking down, not up.

Will the Red Kites make it out of the groups? Most probably? Can they win the group? It'll be a challenge, but it is still within their hands; they just need to outdo The Alpine Union by 2 wins. Can they make it past the round of 32 if they get out the groups? Quite possibly, but it might depend on seeding. And for a really good seeding and to be more likely to pass the round of 32, they need to win the group.

Where does group 15 lie so far?

Alpine Union
The Alpine Union have had astounding success so far and top the group at the half-way point of the group stages. They look unstoppable so far, with 79 runs to their name across the 12 games so far; an average of just over 6 1/2 runs a game, and tied for second highest runs for total across the whole tournament so far. Most notable though is probably their 3 straight victories against the highly ranked team from Ethane, which has seen them go 2 wins clear at the top of the group. At this stage, they're the favourite to win the group but will face a threat from a determined Ethanian team.

Ethane
A team hopeful of success once again after winning a number of editions back, they're looking healthy but not too healthy. They are currently second, but have a cushion of 2 wins either side of them. To further their cause to win the group, they really need an improvement of form against The Alpine Union, and need to clean up their pitching and fielding discipline.

Wabijust
Just in third, they still have a chance after their recent victory against Ethane. They are 2 wins behind the Red Kites, but are still challengers for the second spot into the round of 32. An improvement in their play will be needed, both in scoring runs and fielding, but if they manage a small improvement in both they could challenge.

Mezropolis
Their recent victory against Ethane also moves them up to 2 wins behind the Red Kites. However, large deficits in their fielding - 77 runs against - has harmed their chances and their run differential, and without a major improvement they will struggle to challenge.

Anthor
Despite being labelled a challenger at the start of this tournament, they have struggled to win in what is a very tough group all around. With a fairly alright runs for and against total, and better run differential than Ethane in the second spot, they have been doing alright. The luck just hasn't been on their side. And while they've played well, they haven't impressed in any department, which you need to do to get out the group stages.

by **Cassadaigua** » Tue May 29, 2018 5:01 pm

Matchday 16:

Group 1
Sandberg                               1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 1 1  8
Krossa                                 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 1 0  7

Scootalove City                        0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0  3
The Wolf Zones                         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 1                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Scootalove City                        13    9   4    77   49  +28    27
2 Krossa                                 13    8   5    72   65   +7    24
3 Deseret and Zion                       12    6   6    56   55   +1    18
4 Sandberg                               13    6   7    58   74  −16    18
5 The Wolf Zones                         13    3  10    51   71  −20     9

Group 2
Lycrabon                               4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2  9
The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      0 0 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 0  7

East Ares                              1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  4
North Prarie                           0 1 3 0 0 0 7 0 X 11


  Group 2                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Lycrabon                               13    9   4    58   47  +11    27
2 Banija                                 12    8   4    66   53  +13    24
3 North Prarie                           13    6   7    56   55   +1    18
4 East Ares                              13    5   8    46   65  −19    15
5 The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      13    4   9    53   59   −6    12

Group 3
Ireland Isles                          0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2  5
South Covello                          3 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 X  7

USS Monitor                            0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0  3
Melbergia                              1 0 3 0 3 0 0 2 X  9


  Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                12    9   3    59   34  +25    27
2 South Covello                          13    9   4    60   41  +19    27
3 USS Monitor                            13    7   6    49   53   −4    21
4 Melbergia                              13    5   8    52   54   −2    15
5 Ireland Isles                          13    2  11    36   74  −38     6

Group 4
Equestrian States                  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
St Saratoga                        0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X  1

New Jarwel                         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1
God and Country                    3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 X  5


  Group 4                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Equestrian States                  13    8   5    79   48  +31    24
2 New Jarwel                         13    8   5    65   58   +7    24
3 St Saratoga                        13    7   6    52   57   −5    21
4 God and Country                    13    6   7    55   68  −13    18
5 The Imperial Frost Federation      12    3   9    36   56  −20     9

Group 5
Super-Llamaland                    3 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0  6
Nuevo Caracas                      0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0  5

Gloriax                            0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  2
Northwest Kalactin                 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 5                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Super-Llamaland                    13   11   2    75   44  +31    33
2 Beepee                             12    7   5    53   45   +8    21
3 Northwest Kalactin                 13    7   6    59   52   +7    21
4 Nuevo Caracas                      13    4   9    45   61  −16    12
5 Gloriax                            13    3  10    34   64  −30     9

Group 6
Brookspring                        1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0  4
New Sangti                         1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 X  5

Highton                            0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  3
Xelsis                             0 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 X  5


  Group 6                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Cassadaigua                        12   10   2    56   33  +23    30
2 Xelsis                             13    9   4    67   38  +29    27
3 New Sangti                         13    7   6    55   60   −5    21
4 Brookspring                        13    4   9    42   52  −10    12
5 Highton                            13    2  11    31   68  −37     6

Group 7
West Guam                          0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Darmen                             0 0 0 1 0 0 5 1 X  7

Midand                             1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0  4
Free Republics                     1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1  5


  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                     13   11   2    92   61  +31    33
2 Darmen                             13    7   6    64   53  +11    21
3 Midand                             13    5   8    60   63   −3    15
4 Acapais                            12    5   7    47   58  −11    15
5 West Guam                          13    4   9    42   70  −28    12

Group 8
Humaliwo                           0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Nova Anglicana                     4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 X  5

United States of Yasser            0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
Vangaziland                        1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 X  5


  Group 8                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                     13   12   1    75   39  +36    36
2 United States of Yasser            13    7   6    58   55   +3    21
3 Holy Nazirealm                     12    5   7    51   43   +8    15
4 Vangaziland                        13    5   8    58   74  −16    15
5 Humaliwo                           13    3  10    40   71  −31     9

Group 9
Drawkland                          0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0  3
Mirfast                            0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 X  4

Saintland                          1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  3
New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0  2


  Group 9                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Drawkland                          13    9   4    73   42  +31    27
2 Saintland                          13    8   5    51   56   −5    24
3 Maklohi Vai                        12    7   5    56   44  +12    21
4 Mirfast                            13    5   8    42   52  −10    15
5 New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      13    3  10    33   61  −28     9

Group 10
Oscioru                       1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0  5
The Sherpa Empire             0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4  7

Royal Kingdom of Quebec       0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
United States of Devonta      0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 X  4


  Group 10                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 The Sherpa Empire             13    9   4    62   44  +18    27
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec       13    8   5    65   54  +11    24
3 Oscioru                       13    6   7    56   54   +2    18
4 United States of Devonta      13    5   8    52   65  −13    15
5 East Apikai                   12    4   8    38   56  −18    12

Group 11
Bauscland                     0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Abanhfleft                    1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 X  5

Filindostan                   3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  7
Cosumar                       2 1 2 1 4 0 0 1 X 11


  Group 11                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Abanhfleft                    13   11   2    72   41  +31    33
2 Bauscland                     13    8   5    69   45  +24    24
3 Cosumar                       13    6   7    55   69  −14    18
4 The Star Enpire               12    4   8    35   56  −21    12
5 Filindostan                   13    3  10    39   59  −20     9

Group 12
Stetzra                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0  6
Chagall                       0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  3

Hampton Island                1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  3
Newmanistan                   0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 12                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Newmanistan                   13   11   2    69   36  +33    33
2 Hampton Island                13    9   4    65   51  +14    27
3 Crystalline Caverns           12    6   6    45   53   −8    18
4 Stetzra                       13    5   8    60   72  −12    15
5 Chagall                       13    1  12    51   78  −27     3

Group 13
Pripet Socialist Republic      1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  3
Schiltzberg                    0 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 X  6

Valliesta                      2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Liventia                       2 4 1 1 1 3 0 0 X 12


  Group 13                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Schiltzberg                    13   12   1    68   34  +34    36
2 Liventia                       13    8   5    69   50  +19    24
3 Juvencus                       12    5   7    44   57  −13    15
4 Valliesta                      13    4   9    53   71  −18    12
5 Pripet Socialist Republic      13    3  10    36   58  −22     9

Group 14
West Phoenicia                 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 5 11
Nevis And Kitts                0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0  5

Hicana                         1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
Kita-Hinode                    0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 X  3


  Group 14                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 West Phoenicia                 13   10   3    69   48  +21    30
2 Nevis And Kitts                13    7   6    54   50   +4    21
3 Kita-Hinode                    13    6   7    52   51   +1    18
4 The Greater Nordics            12    5   7    38   48  −10    15
5 Hicana                         13    4   9    41   57  −16    12

Group 15
Mezropolis                     0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0  2
Alpine Union                   0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 X  3

Wabijust                       0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2  3
Anthor                         1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 X  4


  Group 15                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Alpine Union                   13   10   3    82   49  +33    30
2 Ethane                         12    7   5    58   57   +1    21
3 Anthor                         13    5   8    58   55   +3    15
4 Wabijust                       13    5   8    51   65  −14    15
5 Mezropolis                     13    5   8    57   80  −23    15

Matchday 17:

Group 1
The Wolf Zones                         0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2  5
Sandberg                               0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0  3

Krossa                                 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 2 0  7
Deseret and Zion                       0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0  4


  Group 1                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Scootalove City                        13    9   4    77   49  +28    27
2 Krossa                                 14    9   5    79   69  +10    27
3 Deseret and Zion                       13    6   7    60   62   −2    18
4 Sandberg                               14    6   8    61   79  −18    18
5 The Wolf Zones                         14    4  10    56   74  −18    12

Group 2
North Prarie                           1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4  8
Lycrabon                               1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0  4

The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0  2
Banija                                 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  3


  Group 2                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Banija                                 13    9   4    69   55  +14    27
2 Lycrabon                               14    9   5    62   55   +7    27
3 North Prarie                           14    7   7    64   59   +5    21
4 East Ares                              13    5   8    46   65  −19    15
5 The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      14    4  10    55   62   −7    12

Group 3
Melbergia                              0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3  6
Ireland Isles                          0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0  4

South Covello                          0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0  4
Ko-oren                                1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1  5


  Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                13   10   3    64   38  +26    30
2 South Covello                          14    9   5    64   46  +18    27
3 USS Monitor                            13    7   6    49   53   −4    21
4 Melbergia                              14    6   8    58   58    0    18
5 Ireland Isles                          14    2  12    40   80  −40     6

Group 4
God and Country                    0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  2
Equestrian States                  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1

St Saratoga                        2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  4
The Imperial Frost Federation      2 1 2 0 0 1 0 3 X  9


  Group 4                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Equestrian States                  14    8   6    80   50  +30    24
2 New Jarwel                         13    8   5    65   58   +7    24
3 St Saratoga                        14    7   7    56   66  −10    21
4 God and Country                    14    7   7    57   69  −12    21
5 The Imperial Frost Federation      13    4   9    45   60  −15    12

Group 5
Northwest Kalactin                 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Super-Llamaland                    0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 X  5

Nuevo Caracas                      0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  2
Beepee                             0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 X  5


  Group 5                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Super-Llamaland                    14   12   2    80   45  +35    36
2 Beepee                             13    8   5    58   47  +11    24
3 Northwest Kalactin                 14    7   7    60   57   +3    21
4 Nuevo Caracas                      14    4  10    47   66  −19    12
5 Gloriax                            13    3  10    34   64  −30     9

Group 6
Xelsis                             0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1  3
Brookspring                        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

New Sangti                         0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0  3
Cassadaigua                        0 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 X  6


  Group 6                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Cassadaigua                        13   11   2    62   36  +26    33
2 Xelsis                             14   10   4    70   38  +32    30
3 New Sangti                         14    7   7    58   66   −8    21
4 Brookspring                        14    4  10    42   55  −13    12
5 Highton                            13    2  11    31   68  −37     6

Group 7
Free Republics                     0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0  5
West Guam                          0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0  3

Darmen                             0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 1  6
Acapais                            1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  3


  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                     14   12   2    97   64  +33    36
2 Darmen                             14    8   6    70   56  +14    24
3 Midand                             13    5   8    60   63   −3    15
4 Acapais                            13    5   8    50   64  −14    15
5 West Guam                          14    4  10    45   75  −30    12

Group 8
Vangaziland                        0 0 1 1 0 1 4 0 0  7
Humaliwo                           2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  4

Nova Anglicana                     0 0 2 3 0 0 2 0 0  7
Holy Nazirealm                     0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4  5


  Group 8                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                     14   13   1    82   44  +38    39
2 United States of Yasser            13    7   6    58   55   +3    21
3 Vangaziland                        14    6   8    65   78  −13    18
4 Holy Nazirealm                     13    5   8    56   50   +6    15
5 Humaliwo                           14    3  11    44   78  −34     9

Group 9
New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      0 4 0 0 2 0 0 1 2  9
Drawkland                          0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  4

Mirfast                            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3  5
Maklohi Vai                        0 1 3 0 0 0 1 3 X  8


  Group 9                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Drawkland                          14    9   5    77   51  +26    27
2 Maklohi Vai                        13    8   5    64   49  +15    24
3 Saintland                          13    8   5    51   56   −5    24
4 Mirfast                            14    5   9    47   60  −13    15
5 New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      14    4  10    42   65  −23    12

Group 10
United States of Devonta      3 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0  7
Oscioru                       0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0  4

The Sherpa Empire             0 2 0 1 1 2 1 1 0  8
East Apikai                   0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0  4


  Group 10                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 The Sherpa Empire             14   10   4    70   48  +22    30
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec       13    8   5    65   54  +11    24
3 Oscioru                       14    6   8    60   61   −1    18
4 United States of Devonta      14    6   8    59   69  −10    18
5 East Apikai                   13    4   9    42   64  −22    12

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

Abanhfleft                    0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  3
The Star Enpire               0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  4


  Group 11                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Abanhfleft                    14   11   3    75   45  +30    33
2 Bauscland                     14    8   6    71   52  +19    24
3 Cosumar                       14    7   7    62   71   −9    21
4 The Star Enpire               13    5   8    39   59  −20    15
5 Filindostan                   13    3  10    39   59  −20     9

Group 12
Newmanistan                   2 0 1 0 2 0 1 2 2 10
Stetzra                       1 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0  7

Chagall                       0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0  3
Crystalline Caverns           1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 X  4


  Group 12                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Newmanistan                   14   12   2    79   43  +36    36
2 Hampton Island                13    9   4    65   51  +14    27
3 Crystalline Caverns           13    7   6    49   56   −7    21
4 Stetzra                       14    5   9    67   82  −15    15
5 Chagall                       14    1  13    54   82  −28     3

Group 13
Liventia                       2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  4
Pripet Socialist Republic      0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0  3

Schiltzberg                    2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
Juvencus                       0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 2  5


  Group 13                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Schiltzberg                    14   12   2    71   39  +32    36
2 Liventia                       14    9   5    73   53  +20    27
3 Juvencus                       13    6   7    49   60  −11    18
4 Valliesta                      13    4   9    53   71  −18    12
5 Pripet Socialist Republic      14    3  11    39   62  −23     9

Group 14
Kita-Hinode                    0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0  5
West Phoenicia                 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3  4

Nevis And Kitts                0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0  2
The Greater Nordics            1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  3


  Group 14                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 West Phoenicia                 14   10   4    73   53  +20    30
2 Nevis And Kitts                14    7   7    56   53   +3    21
3 Kita-Hinode                    14    7   7    57   55   +2    21
4 The Greater Nordics            13    6   7    41   50   −9    18
5 Hicana                         13    4   9    41   57  −16    12

Group 15
Anthor                         0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0  3
Mezropolis                     0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 X  4

Alpine Union                   0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3  7
Ethane                         0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0  4


  Group 15                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Alpine Union                   14   11   3    89   53  +36    33
2 Ethane                         13    7   6    62   64   −2    21
3 Mezropolis                     14    6   8    61   83  −22    18
4 Anthor                         14    5   9    61   59   +2    15
5 Wabijust                       13    5   8    51   65  −14    15

Matchday 18:

Group 1
Deseret and Zion                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3  6
The Wolf Zones                         0 2 3 0 1 3 0 0 X  9

Sandberg                               0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0  3
Scootalove City                        0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1  4


  Group 1                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Scootalove City                        14   10   4    81   52  +29    30
2 Krossa                                 14    9   5    79   69  +10    27
3 Deseret and Zion                       14    6   8    66   71   −5    18
4 Sandberg                               15    6   9    64   83  −19    18
5 The Wolf Zones                         15    5  10    65   80  −15    15

Group 2
Banija                                 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0  4
North Prarie                           0 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 X  5

Lycrabon                               1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  2
East Ares                              0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3  5


  Group 2                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Banija                                 14    9   5    73   60  +13    27
2 Lycrabon                               15    9   6    64   60   +4    27
3 North Prarie                           15    8   7    69   63   +6    24
4 East Ares                              14    6   8    51   67  −16    18
5 The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      14    4  10    55   62   −7    12

Group 3
Ko-oren                                0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1
Melbergia                              0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X  2

Ireland Isles                          1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
USS Monitor                            0 0 1 3 0 0 0 2 X  6


  Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                14   10   4    65   40  +25    30
2 South Covello                          14    9   5    64   46  +18    27
3 USS Monitor                            14    8   6    55   54   +1    24
4 Melbergia                              15    7   8    60   59   +1    21
5 Ireland Isles                          15    2  13    41   86  −45     6

Group 4
The Imperial Frost Federation      0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
God and Country                    0 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 X  7

Equestrian States                  1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1  6
New Jarwel                         1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 4                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Equestrian States                  15    9   6    86   51  +35    27
2 New Jarwel                         14    8   6    66   64   +2    24
3 God and Country                    15    8   7    64   70   −6    24
4 St Saratoga                        14    7   7    56   66  −10    21
5 The Imperial Frost Federation      14    4  10    46   67  −21    12

Group 5
Beepee                             0 1 0 2 1 4 5 0 0 13
Northwest Kalactin                 3 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 12

Super-Llamaland                    0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0  3
Gloriax                            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 5                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Super-Llamaland                    15   13   2    83   45  +38    39
2 Beepee                             14    9   5    71   59  +12    27
3 Northwest Kalactin                 15    7   8    72   70   +2    21
4 Nuevo Caracas                      14    4  10    47   66  −19    12
5 Gloriax                            14    3  11    34   67  −33     9

Group 6
Cassadaigua                        0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Xelsis                             0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 X  2

Brookspring                        0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1  4
Highton                            0 1 0 2 0 2 1 0 X  6


  Group 6                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Xelsis                             15   11   4    72   39  +33    33
2 Cassadaigua                        14   11   3    63   38  +25    33
3 New Sangti                         14    7   7    58   66   −8    21
4 Brookspring                        15    4  11    46   61  −15    12
5 Highton                            14    3  11    37   72  −35     9

Group 7
Acapais                            0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Free Republics                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

West Guam                          0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0  3
Midand                             1 0 1 0 0 6 3 0 X 11


  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                     15   12   3    97   65  +32    36
2 Darmen                             14    8   6    70   56  +14    24
3 Midand                             14    6   8    71   66   +5    18
4 Acapais                            14    6   8    51   64  −13    18
5 West Guam                          15    4  11    48   86  −38    12

Group 8
Holy Nazirealm                     0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Vangaziland                        0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  3

Humaliwo                           0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0  6
United States of Yasser            2 1 0 1 3 1 1 0 X  9


  Group 8                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                     14   13   1    82   44  +38    39
2 United States of Yasser            14    8   6    67   61   +6    24
3 Vangaziland                        15    7   8    68   80  −12    21
4 Holy Nazirealm                     14    5   9    58   53   +5    15
5 Humaliwo                           15    3  12    50   87  −37     9

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

Drawkland                          0 4 0 0 1 2 0 0 1  8
Saintland                          0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0  3


  Group 9                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Drawkland                          15   10   5    85   54  +31    30
2 Maklohi Vai                        14    8   6    65   51  +14    24
3 Saintland                          14    8   6    54   64  −10    24
4 Mirfast                            14    5   9    47   60  −13    15
5 New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      15    5  10    44   66  −22    15

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

Oscioru                       0 0 4 0 3 1 0 0 0  8
Royal Kingdom of Quebec       0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 1  6


  Group 10                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 The Sherpa Empire             14   10   4    70   48  +22    30
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec       14    8   6    71   62   +9    24
3 Oscioru                       15    7   8    68   67   +1    21
4 United States of Devonta      15    7   8    63   71   −8    21
5 East Apikai                   14    4  10    44   68  −24    12

Group 11
The Star Enpire               0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0  3
Cosumar                       0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1  4

Bauscland                     0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1  3
Filindostan                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 11                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Abanhfleft                    14   11   3    75   45  +30    33
2 Bauscland                     15    9   6    74   52  +22    27
3 Cosumar                       15    8   7    66   74   −8    24
4 The Star Enpire               14    5   9    42   63  −21    15
5 Filindostan                   14    3  11    39   62  −23     9

Group 12
Crystalline Caverns           0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
Newmanistan                   1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 X  3

Stetzra                       2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  4
Hampton Island                2 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 X  6


  Group 12                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Newmanistan                   15   13   2    82   45  +37    39
2 Hampton Island                14   10   4    71   55  +16    30
3 Crystalline Caverns           14    7   7    51   59   −8    21
4 Stetzra                       15    5  10    71   88  −17    15
5 Chagall                       14    1  13    54   82  −28     3

Group 13
Juvencus                       1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Liventia                       0 6 0 0 0 1 3 0 X 10

Pripet Socialist Republic      4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  5
Valliesta                      0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  2


  Group 13                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Schiltzberg                    14   12   2    71   39  +32    36
2 Liventia                       15   10   5    83   55  +28    30
3 Juvencus                       14    6   8    51   70  −19    18
4 Pripet Socialist Republic      15    4  11    44   64  −20    12
5 Valliesta                      14    4  10    55   76  −21    12

Group 14
The Greater Nordics            1 0 0 1 3 1 0 0 0  6
Kita-Hinode                    0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 1  7

West Phoenicia                 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  5
Hicana                         0 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 X  7


  Group 14                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 West Phoenicia                 15   10   5    78   60  +18    30
2 Kita-Hinode                    15    8   7    64   61   +3    24
3 Nevis And Kitts                14    7   7    56   53   +3    21
4 The Greater Nordics            14    6   8    47   57  −10    18
5 Hicana                         14    5   9    48   62  −14    15

Group 15
Ethane                         0 0 2 0 0 1 0 4 0  7
Anthor                         1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0  5

Mezropolis                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4  4
Wabijust                       0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 15                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Alpine Union                   14   11   3    89   53  +36    33
2 Ethane                         14    8   6    69   69    0    24
3 Mezropolis                     15    7   8    65   84  −19    21
4 Anthor                         15    5  10    66   66    0    15
5 Wabijust                       14    5   9    52   69  −17    15

by **Schiltzberg** » Tue May 29, 2018 5:24 pm

Number 7 of 8 in sonnet sequence:

Sonnet 7

So worldly were your motives, as weren’t mine.
So short-term were your thoughts, while mine were long.
My mind, my heart, my soul I thought were thine;
Not more could I be painstakingly wrong.
Your eyes I thought so kind were panes of glass
Now broken by your bluntly spoken spake.
Your face I thought so warm shows truth at last,
More ugly now with every heart you break.
Why look, my angel; fallen now are you!
You shan’t retrieve my heart, for it is lost
And shattered into scores of shards. You knew
That this would be the consequential cost!
No more will I be loving you the same.
You used me as a pawn in your love game.

by **USS Monitor** » Tue May 29, 2018 11:11 pm

Journal of George Geer, June 19:

Had an embarrassing 9-3 loss today. Several of us took turns pitching, but nobody seemed able to stop the Melbergians from scoring. It's hardly surprising when are playing against professional athletes, but it is still disappointing. I doubt that any of us would qualify for the national baseball team of the United States, if there was such a thing. I wonder if there is such a thing in the 21st century...

I found a remarkable book about electrical circuits and batteries in a Melbergian bookstore. It was a fascinating read, and I am sure the War Department will be interested in what I have learned.

June 20:

I had a scare today. I read that the Confederates had some conflicts with baseball fans and players from abroad, and for a moment I thought the enemy might be nearby, but it turns out the "Confederates" are just a baseball team from West Phoenicia.

June 22:

Many peddlers and farmers came to our game today to sell food and other goods. The games are becoming quite popular. A few war widows and orphans came to beg. Although their begging was somewhat irritating, they looked so wretched, common decency dictated that we share our food with them.

It was an enjoyable game. I got on base a couple of times, and scored a run in the 4th inning. We won 6 to 1.

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Wed May 30, 2018 2:21 am

Tales From the Front, Part Five

Admiral of the Pridnestrovian Navy Timofey Rubchev Naval Base
Novorossiysk-na-Dnistr, Yatuvilsk Socialist State, Pridnestrovia

It was a calm and clear day in the city of Novorossiysk, the third largest city in the Democratic People's Republic of the United Socialist States of Pridnestrovia and the primary headquarters of the Pridnestrovian Navy and its Rushmore Fleet. Because of the ongoing war in ESTORVIPA, naval and air patrols have been steadily increasing over the course of the year until it got to the point where there was no longer a time of day where there were no fighter planes patrolling the skies above and near Novorossiysk or warships sailing the seas around the port and the naval base. The people of Novorossiysk understood why the Navy and the Air Force were doing this, though; it was all for their safety and security. After all, the IMPERIUM was a perfidious enemy that can strike anywhere and any time, and it also had the added advantage of being close enough to Pridnestrovia to launch an all-out invasion if it so chose. And that wasn't all propaganda; there was enough evidence that the IMPERIUM could actually do that in reality, and it was only because of the threat of nuclear retaliation from Pridnestrovia that prevented the two countries from actually going to war themselves instead of fighting through proxies such as the states and factions on ESTORVIPA.

It was about nine in the morning when long-range early warning radar around Novorossiysk detected a formation of at least a dozen unidentified aircraft coming in from an easterly direction. The Pridnestrovians knew that this was not soldiers returning from ESTORVIPA because the IFF (identification friend or foe) system didn't return any signals that identified the aircraft as friendlies. Repeated attempts to make contact with the aircraft on all frequencies were also met with silence, so the Novorossiysk air defense sector had no choice but to send out aircraft to intercept the aircraft and force them to either turn around or land in Novorossiysk without too much conflict. The Air Force patrol tasked with monitoring the eastern aerial approach into Novorossiysk was immediately vectored to the place where the unidentified aircraft were coming from. "Spider Flight, turn to heading 090 and proceed straight ahead until you make contact with the bogeys," the flight controller told the leader of Spider Flight.

"Roger, Novorossiysk, turn left heading 090 and continue straight to intercept bogeys," Spider Leader repeated. "All right, boys, let's go see what the fuss is all about," he said to the three other pilots of Spider Flight, a group of four Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptors whose sole mission was to meet aerial threats head-on and, if it came to that, engage them in aerial warfare. The four jets turned as one towards the east, the direction from which the bogey were reportedly coming from. The Novorossiysk air defense sector had experienced something like this in the first days of their intervention in ESTORVIPA. The IMPERIUM had decided to deploy one of its newest stealth bombers for a show of force, and the bomber had flown right above Novorossiysk during its one and only fly-by, escorted by both Imperial and Pridnestrovian fighters. The bomber had seemingly gone on an aerial sightseeing trip over Novorossiysk before finally turning back for home and leaving the city unmolested. In the back of the MiG-31 pilots' minds, they all had a feeling that this intercept would not turn out the same as this previous one.

"All right, everyone, keep your eyes peeled," the leader of Spider Flight called out. "There's a lot of cloud cover up here, so we might have to go through some of clouds to get eyes on the bogeys."

"Yes, Comrade Captain," the second man in Spider Flight replied for the rest of the patrol.

"Novorossiysk, how close are we to the bogeys?" Spider Flight's leader called back to the air defense sector controller. "It seems we can't pick them up on our radars. Our IFFs have also gone quiet."

"You should be right on top of them, Spider Leader," the air controller, a young Air Force senior lieutenant, replied. "My radar shows you just two nautical miles away from the bogeys."

"I can't see them, Spider Leader," Spider Two said over their inter-aircraft comms.

"Well, maybe the clouds are spoofing our radars," Spider Leader said. "Wouldn't be the first time that happened. When was the last time we had these things upgraded, huh? Maybe we'll finally find them once we get beyond this cloud. It's about the only thing we can do, eh?"

The four MiGs banked around the cloud to get around it without possibly colliding with another object that had tried to fly through the cloud as well. As Spider Flight leveled their wings after the turn, they were all suddenly surprised to see not just a dozen flying objects but a veritable armada of fighters and transport planes, all of them headed seemingly for Novorossiysk.

"Holy shit!" Spider Leader called. "Novorossiysk, we have eyes on the bogeys! Repeat, we have eyes on the bogeys!"

"Novorossiysk confirms you have eyes on the bogeys, Spider Flight. Can you report on their status?"

"It's the Imperials! They've finally gone and done it! They're invading us!" Spider Leader blabbered on.

"What was that, Spider? Repeat your last," the Air Force controller requested.

"The Imperials are here! The Imperials are here! The Imperials are here!" Spider Leader practically shouted. At that same moment, the four MiGs' IFF systems suddenly went to life, and practically all sorts of alarms went off inside each and every MiG's cockpit. "We're getting blasted!" Spider Leader shouted. "Evasive manouevres! Deploy countermeasures!" But it was too late; a wave of air-to-air missiles from the Imperial fighter escorts flew straight for Spider Flight, who had to disengage from their formation and fly practically one against everyone else. Already, Spider Flight lost one aircraft; Spider Four was unlucky enough to be targeted by two missiles and got struck by both at the same time.

"Shit! Spider Four is down!" Spider Leader called out. "We're under attack here!"

"There's too many of them!" Spider Two shouted. "I can't shake them all off!" And those would turn out to be his last words as his jet was struck face-first by another Imperial air-to-air missile.

"Chyort! Chyort! Spider Two is down as well!" Spider Leader reported back to Novorossiysk. "We're getting massacred out here!" Spider Leader tried to launch a pair of his own air-to-air missiles at some of the Imperial fighters, but they had more advanced countermeasures and the missiles spiraled aimlessly through the air before exploding harmlessly among the clouds. "Novorossiysk, we are turning back!" Spider Leader reported. But even as he turned his jet around to fly back to Novorossiysk, two more Imperial missiles latched on to the hot exhaust of his afterburners, and those two missiles shoved themselves into his exhausts before blowing up and taking down Spider Leader.

"Der'mo! Der'mo! Der'mo! Novorossiysk, this is Spider Three!" the last remaining member of Spider Flight reported. "Spider Leader has been splashed! There's too many of them! They're too strong! We're all going to die!" And as the pilot ended his transmission, his jet's radar blip on the Novorossiysk air defense sector radar vanished.

"Spider Three, report," the air defense controller said. "Spider Three, can you hear me? Spider Three, are you there? Chyort," the lieutenant muttered when Spider Three no longer spoke back to him. The lieutenant then called over the major in charge of the air defense controllers and said to her, "Comrade Major, I detected at least a dozen unidentified aircraft on the radar, coming in from the west of Novorossiysk. I vectored Spider Flight to the location of the bogeys and they..."

"They what, Comrade Lieutenant?" the major asked back. "What did they see?"

"Spider Flight reported at least thirty Imperial transport planes along with perhaps fifty or so fighter escorts, but Spider Flight were engaged and shot down before they could report back more details about the intruders," the lieutenant finally replied.

"Govno," the major of aviation muttered. "Very well, Comrade Lieutenant. Return to your post." The major then walked over to her own post at the center of the radar installation and picked up a red telephone which was screwed tightly to the desk. "This is Major Tereshchenko," she said. She then repeated what the lieutenant had told her about the contact between Spider Flight and what was now all but confirmed to be an invading Imperial aerial force. "Yes, Comrade General," the major said as she listened to the orders now coming down from higher up the chain of command. "Yes, Comrade General." She put down the red phone and then turned to address the rest of the air defense controllers.

"We are under attack, comrades," the major said to the controllers. "The IMPERIUM has decided to launch an aerial invasion force on our beloved Republic. The Imperials have already spilled Pridnestrovian blood by bringing down the air patrol we have vectored to intercept them. It is obvious that the Imperials aim to invade Novorossiysk, Bender, Tiraspol and all other cities up the Dniester River. We cannot let them do that.

"General Drulyenko has ordered the initiation of the National Grounding Protocol," the major continued. "All civilian and non-essential military air traffic are to be ordered to land on the nearest available airports or airfields while all air patrols already in the air are to be vectored to the intruders. All available fighter jets are also to be scrambled into the air to reinforce our current air patrols and stop the Imperial invasion from getting through our defenses. The air defense umbrella has also been activated, but as our experiences in ESTORVIPA will tell us, no matter how strong any air defense system is, some will still get through. But for every transport and fighter that we can bring down, the better."

The room suddenly exploded with activity as some controllers began vectoring the rest of the patrols currently up in the air towards the incoming Imperial aerial invasion force while others got in contact with airports all over Pridnestrovia to tell them of the initiation of the National Grounding Protocol and to urge these airports to tell all civilian aircraft to land immediately so as not to be confused with the invasion force. In their rush to get down to the ground immediately, some airliners actually landed on military airfields (and some airliners nearly collided with fighter jets taking off to participate in the defense of the Novorossiysk air sector) while other planes actually ended up landing on airport taxiways.

Meanwhile, having survived the rain of civilian airliners and planes, the Pridnestrovian Air Force rose up to meet the Imperial threat. One hundred Pridnestrovian fighter jets looked to do battle with thirty Imperial transport planes and their fifty fighter escorts. It could very well be the battle that decides the fate of two nations. And only one of them can win, of course. But at the moment, there was no way of telling who the victor would be.

by **Beepee** » Wed May 30, 2018 5:08 am

Match Day 16

Bye

Grateful for the day of rest Homer Unn treated the squad to a llama farm calling it for what it is Homer Unn stated "It's an unprecedented precedent".

Match Day 17

Nuevo Caracas
0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
Beepee 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 X 5

Beepee comfortably edged the Caraquenses in Match Day 17. An excellent fourth innings a wonderful team performance saw 7 hits in the inning.

Following the match Homer Unn saif "If we played like this every week, we wouldn't be so inconsistent."

Match Day 18
Beepee 0 1 0 2 1 4 5 0 0 13
Northwest Kalactin
3 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 12

I'm what may be remembered as the match of the group a high scoring match agaibst two evenly matched teams saw Beepee edge the Kalactins 13-12.

Beepee manager Homer Unn praised pitcher josef artemovich saying about a magnificent pitch..."Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer."

by **Xelsis** » Wed May 30, 2018 5:09 am

Entez Sporting Network-WBC Special

Vasquez comes within an out of perfection and Rumenoss takes down Goliath in a thrilling three-game slate

While the mood of the Xelsian fan could best be described as "Melancholy" after falling two games behind the Group lead and falling a third consecutive time to Cassadaigua before watching both they and the Indios pick up wins while on a bye, it would be a falsehood on-air to call it anything less than ecstatic at the present moment, as two of the most thrilling games ever played at Pettering Park occurred just now, in this very Classic.

After twenty-four consecutive innings without allowing a run, Larry Harlo was bound for regression at some point, and finally had his time called in his start against the Highton Islands. His touch seemed off from the start, opposing batters making solid contact against him, and after giving up two runs in the first four innings, Harlo was removed partway through the fifth, to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The short start required heavy use of the bullpen, with The Doctor, Harold Rolon, bringing his ERA back into finite numbers with two and two-thirds innings of three-hit no-run ball before running into trouble allowing back-to-back doubles and a run and being pulled in the seventh, at which point Katerina Deachrist tossed two perfect in relief, followed by a one-walk ninth from Stevens. On the offensive side of things, the game was a steady effort across the board, all eight position players, even Fredrick Lasitos, managing at least one hit, culminating in a seventh inning that saw five consecutive singles from the 3-7 spots in the order after an O'Connor groundout, scoring three runs before ending with strikeouts from Deachrist and Lasitos. The 5-3 win, though, is scarce-remembered with what came after. While Harlo was expected to have to face regression, what was not expected, was for a pitcher just promoted from the national team's bullpen to take his place, and in even more dominant fashion.

After back-to-back scoreless bullpen appearances, Salvidar Vasquez took on the Kiwis, and shut them down completely. The lefthander, long notable mostly only as a sad example of potential lost to injury, showed all of it on the road in Brookspring. Touching ninety-ninety miles per hour on his fastball at one point, Vasquez blew away every batter he faced, throwing an astonishing and near-record sixteen strikeouts, Kiwi contact was repeatedly weak whenever they managed to put a bat on the ball at all, and the first twenty-six batters went down without a whimper. Entering the ninth inning, Vasquez remarkably still had gas, sending down both of the first two batters on strikeouts with pitches in the high-nineties. Taking on Richard Esposito, Vasquez allowed a can of corn into leftfield which fell directly into, and then directly out of, Nolan Maneros's glove, leaving a man on first with an error. Though the last batter was retired with a ground ball to first, no-hitter and shutout intact, the team's best pitcher in the Classic had good reason for frustration with the team's best hitter, with Vasquez's hometown fans quickly leaping onto the internet to lob criticism at the reigning XHL MVP. On the field, though, no animosity could be detected, as an openly ecstatic Vasquez embraced Maneros on camera in the post-win celebration. On the offensive side of things, Mario Teros finally seemed to find his swing, hitting the team's third home run of the Classic away from the far-off walls of Pettering Park in Brookspring National Stadium, and adding a second RBI on a double, as well as collecting three walks, as the Lightning displayed good plate discipline against a wild opposing starting pitcher, but hit poorly with runners in scoring position, ending with a 3-0 lead.

Despite a sudden, feel-good rise to glory, Vasquez is not the hero of the day. That honor instead goes to Edgar Rumenoss who finally found he had the sling to take down the Group's giant in Cassadaigua. The tall groundball pitcher was always better known for his batting abilities, but at home in Pettering Park, he provided exactly what was needed. While the switch-hitting Cassadaiugan lineup was able to turn on Baker's fastballs, repeatedly hammering the ace, and knock out Deachrist's knuckleballs, hammering her hard enough to have her pulled from the rotation, Rumenoss's tactics were much less aggressive. Don't worry about missing bats-just hit the right part of them. Only garnering two strikeouts in a nine-inning complete game, Rumenoss pitched to contact, and fed his defense a steady diet of ground balls to make plays on.

Rumenoss was not perfect, however, and the game never approached a blowout. Cassadaiguan hits did not all find gloves, and they outfit the Xelsian lineup 11-4. The game may well have turned out much differently if not for a single remarkable play by a player who'd thus far had no real mark of success in the Classic, and whose inclusion in the lineup was a matter of controversy. Albert Deachrist, starting over Mario Teros at shortstop, was exemplary at the position, putting on a highlight reel of diving, sliding, and leaping stops, and dead-on throws, well above expectations. It was in the third inning, however, where he made his mark. Rumenoss had been successful, but not entirely confidence-inducing over the first two innings, giving up three hits and a walk, but no runs, inducing the array of lefthanders he faced to twice ground into double plays. In the third, however, the slight leaks pushed through. Giving up a double to start off the inning, Rumenoss nibbled around the corners of the strike zone too much, and walked the bases loaded, only to give up a line drive straight to right-center that would likely have been a double and scored more than one if not for a running snag on the one-hop by Reilly O'Connor. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the game was in danger of being blown wide open, and a crowd of over seventy thousand watched as after working the count to 3-0, Danielle Terry smashed a second line drive opposite-field and high, only to see it caught on an incredible dive by Deachrist, who was forced to crawl-run to his feet to race to second base to double-off the runner, as Garner was too far from the bag with the shift. Reaching the base a half-step ahead, Deachrist leapt, turned, and rocketed the ball home to Lasitos, who, with a deft tag, snagged the sliding, tagged up runner from third ahead of the plate, completing the triple play, and working Rumenoss out of an incredible jam.

The heroics were not, however, quite yet over. Xelsis had thus far achieved little on offense to that point, starting the game with two leadoff walk, but gathering nothing further. Rumenoss led off the eighth, but failed to help his cause with a strikeout, but Lasitos, batting under .100 on the Classic, without a single walk in over seventy plate appearances, took one for the team, struck on his right knee. Tankeros singled solidly to shallow left field, but Lasitos reached only second base, where be and Tankeros both were bunted over by O'Connor, the second out of the inning, and an action that brought Deachrist to the plate. Deachrist had struck out in his first plate appearance of the game, and was 0-10 for the Classic to that point, and quickly went down 0-2. On the payoff pitch, Deachrist was fooled badly on a curveball from Cassadaiguan starter Katia Tavarez, in the direct low and far outside the plate, but on a desperately reaching swing just managed to make contact, popping the ball on a shallow arc just barely past the first basewoman's head, not even to the outfield grass, where it made it to the ground. Deachrist would beat the throw to the pitcher covering the bag by a step, and score not only Lasitos, but Tankeros, hustling around third and home as the throw came to first, the go-ahead run, and the last one the team would need.

The game's outcome was never secure moving forward. Rumenoss would allow six more hits through six, but every time managed to keep a runner from crossing home. The Lightning, for their part, remained stymied by the Cassadaiguan pitching, save for the suddenly-hot Deachrist, who would double and triple in his next two at-bats, without receiving a fifth. The top of the ninth, though, after all the tension of the previous innings, including a first-and-third situation in the eighth with one out, was a smooth as silk, with two popouts and a soft one-hopper to first to end the inning on four pitches, and bring Xelsis the win it had long desired.

Those who were bold enough to show up at Pettering Park after the disappointments of the past will have stories to tell their young ones for years to come after the thrilling matchup. Xelsis remains a half-game behind Cassadaigua, and a division win is likely out of the picture, but a playoff spot is quite possible with continued good play, and the home front is once again squarely behind their ballplayers.

Baker takes the mound next against the Indios, followed by a bye and Harlo throwing against Highton Islands. Stay tuned.

World Baseball Classic 43- Everything (Finals G6 Posted)

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