World Baseball Classic 62 Everything Thread

[Zwangzug]

(OOC: this isn't really how the idiom goes, but sometimes it gets stuck in my head when I see this nation name, so.)

Vadnagar was starting at third
as we took on these nocturnal birds.
Both Freja and Lars
look like players of ours,
which is to say, they are big nerds.

Edgren is an expert game-caller
as well as a true board game scholar.
But the first game's line score
made the local fans sore,
with barely a cheer or a holler.

But the "bottom-eighth big rally" cleats
are now worn on the other feet.
Poor Marissa Bourse
is filled with remorse
as the Owls send us to defeat.

We lead; they immediately tie it.
The home fans are noisy, not quiet.
The scoreline is dire:
to fight tika fire,
I guess you need a tika riot.

[South Newlandia]

Cuddle Series 2

Mats Molina was feeling antsy on the plane to Ranoria City. Despite his long career, inextricably connected to Ranoria given his lenghty stint with the Elephant Valley Snow Bears, the reliever had never actually been in Ranoria before. While he was very much looking forward to another cuddle series and seeing Ol' Red in particular, but he also felt a bit afraid. He never quite could figure out how much of the stuff his former teammates like Breit and Yahweh were telling him about Ranoria was the truth, and how much of it they just made up to mess with him.

When the plane touched down and the doors opened, Molina quickly felt the cold air reach his skin. "They definitely did not lie about that one", he thought, and watched as Lio Fischer already started shivering despite being dressed like he was about to undertake a polar expedition. "Now I just need to look out for a huge love for gridiron football, the "Ranorian Wolfhound", and unruly foreign relief pitchers being ated by Snow Bears. I bet at least one of those was made up."

The two teams had already made plans for a special cuddle series event ahead of time, and they wasted little time to execute it. For the very first pitch of the game, Krauts starter Jorge Billing lobbed an eephus pitch at Kevin Barros, which the radar gun clocked at 47 miles per hour. Barros immediately went down like he'd been shot, before jumping to his feet and charging at Billing with open arms. Billing tossed his glove aside and opened his arms as well. As both bullpens and benches quickly emptied, Barros embraced Billing in a hug, with all the other players and even managers soon following suit and turning Constance Airlines Field into one massive cuddle session, while Ol' Red excitedly jumped around the field. The extremely confuzzled umpires spent minutes trying to restore the baseball game they'd been paid to call, which only the threat of a forfeit against both teams managed to do. They were quickly joined in their confusion by the Ranorians when Teresa Mills immediately hit a two-run home run, as the Krauts simply could not shake the feeling that their elefriends had pulled a sneaky ellie fast one on them.

The game would eventually get even more off the rails in an entirely different way. The Elephants had maintained their early lead as both starters settled in, and had given enough run support to starter Charles Morgan that he got to exit the game with a narrow 4-2 lead, and a hard-hit two-run double by Raffaele Pohl seemed to basically put the game to bed. What happened next can really only be described as “what if Alexandra Graham and Franklin Bell had a child”, and the age gap is not the only repulsive thing about that. Against Ellies reliever Roger Weiß, the Krauts got some immediate traffic, and after a two-out Fred Graham RBI single, Julian Breit hit a three-run home run to tie the game at six apiece.

South Newlandia struck back in the top of the eighth against Miles Rickson, who was quickly replaced by Igor Mattison, but neither could prevent the Elephants from grabbing three hits and a pair of walks on their way to scoring three runs to, seemingly, once again put the game out of reach. The Snow Bears had other ideas. Côme Nguyen barely knew what hit her before Ranoria had the bases loaded on her with none out. With the pitcher spot up, manager Leonardo Harrison called on Vincent Veltrone, having already spent Jetson earlier in the game. Veltrone showed he didn’t need the platoon advantage to come through, hitting a two-run single and moving Rylan Rodgers, the tying run to third.

In a desperate attempt to stop the game from unravelling, Franklin Bell called on John Trunkman to stop the bleeding, hoping to just figure out the ninth when it came to that. The best available South Newlandian reliever got Solomons to fly out, but it was enough for Rodgers to tag up and score to tie the game at nine. After getting Fred Graham out, the Elephants had hope that they’d manage to escape the inning with the score remaining tied -- but Julian Breit was back up in the lineup, and he launched his second home run in as many innings to make the score 9-11.

In the most recent five half-innings, the two teams had scored 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 runs (not in that order), and unfortunately, Miellen Walker managed to add a “0”, with the Pachyderms going down in order in the bottom of the ninth, and giving the Snow Bears the game one victory in Ranoria City. After such an exciting, long, and stressful game, the Snow Bears made the understandable decision that they would need to do a quick hibernation to regain their energy. Because of that, they didn't score a single run in game two, leaving Ranorian starter Jacklyn Flowers out to dry. Most baseball experts agree that scoring a run is actually a requirement to win the game, so she was put into a pretty tough spot.

That meant Mats Molina was quite bored a few innings in. Shivay Sahu was shoving on the mound, so there was little chance he'd be needed to come into the game anytime soon, and so his mind began to wander. He hadn't really gotten a chance to play with Ol' Red yet, the most important staff member of the Snow Bears, and right now, he couldn't quite see him anywhere. "Now, where would I be if I were a floofer", Molina thought, and decided that he ought to check the clubhouse of the Ranorians first. When he approached, he could hear the familiar voice of his longtime teammate Yahweh Bohannon, talking to someone, although he couldn't quite make out any words. When he got closer, the voice suddenly disappeared, replaced by only a handful of deep and high noises Molina struggled to place. Molina knocked on the door. No answer. "Yahweh? Are you in there?", Molina shouted.

"No!", was the answer he received. Molina definitely thought something was up at this point. "Open the door, please", he asked, only to be told that Mr. Bohannon was not home right now, but he could leave a message after the tone. Mats Molina tried the knob. He found that the door was unlocked, and stepped into the clubhouse. "Hey, Yahweh? What the fuck is that?" "That's uh, a baseball glove!" Molina blinked twice. "That's not what I meant. Where did you find this?" "Oooooh", said Yahweh Bohannon. "You must mean Fluffy". A squeak, as if to confirm the statement, and two more blinks. “Perhaps the question I should ask is -- where did you find a fucking baby woolly mammoth?!?”, Molina finally got to the point. The little pachyderm, who looked to be only a few weeks old, but still probably outweighed both of the grown men combined, made another satisfied noise. “Man”, Bohannon responded. “I wish I could tell you. Things got pretty wild after the last series when we landed back in Ranoria. I had a loss to try and drown in liquids. I don’t really remember much. And when I woke up, I guess Fluffy was just kinda there?”

“You can not be serious, Yahweh”, Molina said. “Have you just been keeping her in here? That’s ridiculous. We’ve got to let people know so they can actually take care of her”, he added. “Excuse me, what makes you the expert on taking care of fluffy elephants?”, Yahweh asked. “I like to think I’m taking care of her fantastically”, he boasted. “Well, I majored in bio in college. I know in Ranoria, college is just an excuse to party and play sports, but in South Newlandia,“, Molina explained, before he was cut off by his former teammate. “And they had a class on how to take care of fluffy elephants there?” “It’s South Newlandia. Yes. Of course. What did you expect?” “Well. I still think I’m taking good care of Fluffy”, Bohannon said, somewhat peeved. “Not to be rude, but I beg to differ”, Molina said. “How so?” “Well, you’re currently feeding her, are those Outbox Fries?” Bohannon stopped taking fries out of the bag, much to the dismay of the little mammoth, who made her displeasure known with more squeaky trumpets. “Besides, she can’t stay here forever. Woolly Mammoths get pretty big and I don’t think the Krauts insurance covers tusk damage. And there’s definitely more problems than that”, Molina continued. “I would not want someone to have to come and do an insurance here”, Bohannon admitted. “Even though it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing they’d have to ban me from doing in my contract”, he added.

Experts would eventually conclude that a drunken Yahweh Bohannon must have stumbled upon an orphan mammoth in the woods during that night. At least, no one could imagine Bohannon successfully taking away a baby from what would have been a very upset woolly mammoth mom. They were able to bring Fluffy to a rewilding station specialising in these cases, where she would get contact with other baby mammoths, a loving environment, and species-appropriate snackies. Elsewhere, Ranoria would defeat the Elephants in game three to stop their elefriends from winning the group very prematurely, and everyone involved got the memory of a lifetime. South Newlandia quickly decided to memorialise Fluffy in their team history by acquiring a mammoth plushie modelled after Fluffly, which would travel with the team. Whenever a player would hit a home run, they’d get to lift the plushie towards the fans. The celebration will be reminding everyone of their Ranorian friends and their antics, and it’s also just fun to have a plushie around. Not everyone can have a clubhouse dog as enthusiastic and okay with flying a lot as Ol’ Red, after all.

[Tikariot]

Episode VI: The Children of the Treeline

Xanark is the capital of the province of Xark and sits at the edge of what can reasonably be called habitation. Slight hyperbole, but still not that far off. Beyond it, the land flattens into tundra and broken woodland, stunted trees, sparse undergrowth, and long stretches of silence interrupted only by wind. The forests that do exist are not dense in the traditional sense, but they are difficult to navigate. The distances are deceptive as they stretch over wide expansive with repeating landmarks (not hard in flat tundra terrain), so it's easy to lose your direction.

Still, it is not a place where people go missing easily. Which is why, when they did, it was remembered.

The Orphanage

The story begins in an orphanage on the northern edge of Xanark over a century ago. There was not much beyond other than open land. It was not large, but it was a permanent fixture in turn of the century Xanark, with a stone foundation, timber construction and built sturdy to endure the cold, not so much to comfort those housed within.

Rare for this period, records from the time are intact, with intake lists, supply logs, disciplinary notes. The only thing that stands out among it is one single incident report, which states several children unaccounted for during morning inspection. The report says that there were no signs of forced entry or exit, no witnesses to their departure. Six children's names are listed, while the report also notes that there were immediate search efforts.

The Search

Newspaper clippings tell us that search parties were organized the same day, with volunteers, staff and local guides moving outward from the orphanage in widening patterns, focusing mainly on the treeline to the north and east. The assumption was straightforward: the children had fled, likely together, likely without provisions.

The searchers initially found tracks, small, matching the age of the children, all leading toward the forest in the north. Unfortunately, due to the ground becoming more uneven and broken by root, rocks and frost, the tracks soon became indistinguishable from the rest. The search continued for three days, but the search groups found no shelter, remains or clothing. The conclusion was as predictable as grim. The children had not survived the exposure.

The First Sighting

The first report came weeks later, when a hunter, working along the edge of the forest, described seeing movement among the trees, low to the ground, irregular, which he assumed to be wildlife. Until it stopped and stood, looking at him. He described a figure, partially obscured by branches, small, upright. He called out, but no response, and when he approached, the figure moved behind a stand of trees. When he reached the spot, there was nothing there, no tracks, no sound, and the report was dismissed as a misidentification.

Recurring Accounts

Over the following years, similar reports emerged, not frequently or consistently, but still enough to be noted, as they all had the same parameters. Different individuals working near or in the forest, hunters, surveyors, seasonal labourers, would describe seeing something at the edge of their vision. Small figures that were too still or narrow to be animals, too... vertical. While details varied between report, there were enough elements that remained consistent.

They were always small, partially obscured, by branches, trunks or shadows, and not behaving like animals.

The Shape

While the descriptions of the figures were all of children, they often included an unusual detail. They did not appear separate from their surroundings. Limbs were difficult to distinguish, edges blurred into bark, into brush, into the irregular lines of the forest itself. Some reports describe them as wearing clothing, but stiffened, textured differently, as if it resembled more woodland growth than fabric.

The Distance

One thing all reports agree on is that the figures never appear at close range. They are always seen at the edge of visibility, far enough to doubt yet still near enough to recognize. When they would try to approach, they would fail every time, not because the figures disappeared but because whoever tried to get close would lose orientation. Witnesses describe moving toward a figure, only to find that the terrain shifts subtly, whether it's trees appearing where there had been space, lines of sight closing, paths no longer aligning with memory.

Eventually, the figure is no longer visible and none of the witnesses could clearly say when that happened.

The Question of Age

What pushes these accounts from simple misidentification is not the sighting itself, but the time over which they occur. Sometimes there were sightings within weeks from each other, sometimes there would be years, at the longest even decades, but the reports don't change. The figures have the same descriptions but they don't grow, they remain small, child-sized. Every single report is consistent in their proportions, postures and presence. Not one report states adult forms, so there is no development over time.

Institutional Response

Officially, there is no connection, as there never has been any proof. The orphanage incident remains classified as an unresolved disappearance, and the sightings are categorized as environmental misinterpretation, which is common in low-contrast, high-repetition landscapes such as the tundra forests surrounding Xanark. No formal investigation ever links the two, and no effort has been made to reconcile them.

Local Understanding

Among those who live and work near the forest, the distinction is a little less rigid, as the story persists. Not as an urban legend or claim, but rather as a cautionary tale.

Children are not allowed to approach the treeline alone. Not because of wildlife or terrain but rather because of what might be seen or that they might become part of the forest themselves.

Unrecorded Observations

Investigators found a small number of accounts that include details that are not widely shared, as they were rarely written down and when they were, they would often be quickly removed from official records. These accounts state that the figures did not always stand still, but would subtle move. Not running or walking, but rather shifting, as if they were not figures in the forest but somehow part of the forest.

The Present Day

The forest remains, the orphanage does not. It was decommissioned years ago, its structure eventually dismantled, all that remains are the records - and the stories. The land it occupied is now empty, marked only by a foundation outline and scattered remnants of stone. The sightings, however, continue.

[Dhemixia]

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)
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Least predictable Dhemixian choke:

Schedule:

Series 1: vs. Nusandara W 2-1
Series 2: @ Liventia L 1-2
Series 3: vs. Abanhfleft W 3-0
Series 4: @ Chromatika W 2-1
Series 5: vs. Drawkland L 1-2
Series 6: @ Nusandara W 2-1
Series 7: vs. Liventia L 1-2
Series 8: @ Abanhfleft W 3-0
Series 9: vs. Chromatika
Series 10: @ Drawkland

I don't know if I've ever been less confident about a series (or a series of series) than right now.

In theory, these are Dhemixia's knockouts to miss. Third in the group, top three make it, six games to go up by two on fourth. Absolute piece of cake. In practice, these are, in fact, Dhemixia's knockouts to miss. Neil McCarthy intends to do just that. The real problem with this situation isn't the quantity, it's the quality. 6 games is a relatively short period of time in a 30-game group stage. When it's best-on-best, as it will be with Chromatika and Drawkland, those 6 games will each last an eternity. Each a war of attrition infinitely longer than the last. The Serps need at very least to go .500 to sneak into third (assuming Liventia doesn't epically collapse), which realistically means they need to steal one from the Base Corps. Bad news, the Dhemixians are playing in Drawkland. Horrible news, they're playing in Drawk City in front of 75,000 hatewatchers and downfall prayers. Somehow even worse news, Jack Guzman is starting in both series. Neil McCarthy is recreating the trolley problem and instead of being tied down to the track, he's willingly staying there because he wants to see what would happen.

A little bit of good news, Drawkland's after the Chromatika series. They're a later Serpents problem. The present Serpents problem is that they still have to play Chromatika. This is about the best you could be entering a series situationally, taking into account that you won the last series, they just got swept, and you just swept a team, but the Dhemixians will still find a way to lose the morale battle. Being former WBC champions, you'd kinda expect them to be a tough out, but even coming off a sort of hibernation, they appear as though they haven't left WBC 52 after ten whole cycles. With the bullpen in the midst of a comical slow-motion collapse and the offense streakier than the LPB9 Blue Sox (which seems impossible because it contains hitters from that lineup), having to play tough opponents for their qualification lives is maybe the worst thing you could do right about now. And you could go roll around in razor wire before taking a bath in rubbing alcohol!

Fortunately, the Serps put themselves into the best spot possible entering the final six. Sweeping the megaseries with Abanhfleft was a must, considering they needed to take every game they could get, and they did just that. The starting pitching was shaky at times, but the offense finally figured out they're allowed to hit the ball after the starter comes out. They needed a rally in game one down two, and they got it in the fifth, going on to never give up the lead after. They needed insurance in game two up one, and they also got it in the fifth. They needed insurance in game three up one, and they got a four-spot in the sixth. Point being, the Dhemixian bats might finally be clutch.

The Serpents will need clutch bats and solid pitching to take the series against Chromatika, so if they are truly clutch, there's no telling what Terry Hjalmarsson could do with the bases loaded. That or I'm hallucinating and should be a doomer. Probably the latter.

[Kamijiro]

Diamond IX, Vol. IV, Part VI: Learning to Fly

Magurix Gaëtan had grown up in a rural village in the southeastern part of Vincennes, a small commune in what was formerly called Aquitania. He's pretty old - estimates put him at around 250 years of age, though in human years he's about 23. Most notably, he's got wings. Real ones. Black feathers sprouting from the back of him like a dove's dipped in oil.

In his youth, he wasn't known as just "Wings." He was called "Icarus" or "Icky" because he simply didn't know how to fly. When he was a child, Vincennes was a town known best for being heavily populated by the Winged. The Winged are those who (obviously) are humanoid and have wings, typically white or red. Learning to fly was what came after walking - every child was expected to know how to fly before they entered kindergarten. So imagine the shock for the teachers when the new kid showed up, had all-black wings and... couldn't fly. Not for lack of trying, but he was simply just... weak. His wings flapped and flapped, but he could barely make it a few feet above the ground before he'd tire himself out and have to land again. Or, in his case, crash-land. He hated it. At one point, he went home to his parents and talked about getting his wings clipped entirely. They were ugly. They were useless. They made him more miserable than anything else in his life.

But eventually, he learned. Never could soar like the others, but it didn't really matter. Because he was happy with how far he'd gotten. His parents weren't, however, and sent him off to a flying school across the country in Toulouse. This is how he managed to escape the oncoming civil war that turned the town he grew up in into a charred wreck. He was the only survivor from the entire commune of Vincennes. He'd hopped onto a boat to escape conscription - said boat was heading to a fresh colony down in the Pacific, port of call at Chamonix. From there, he'd learned how to fly on his own. Mostly by falling over and over. But when you're the only one with wings in the whole colony? That makes you special, even if you can barely fly at all. So he stayed.

Now, he's an aerial photographer. Takes stunning landscapes from above. Plays catcher for the Diamond IX because if he could fly in the outfield to rob home runs, it'd be unfair. He'd placed that rule on himself because he's a sportsman first and foremost. Sometimes when he's alone on Île de Jeux, the island he's the sole inhabitor of, he thinks back to being called Icarus and just... sighs. Simpler times, he supposes. The Diamond IX is hectic, his photography career has launched way past what he'd intended, making it very difficult to schedule time for himself to chill. He'd never gone back to Vincennes to see how bad things were, but maybe that's okay. Or maybe he should go back and see how things are now.

Either way, play on, Magurix.

[Chromatika]

Last Stand

After a sweep at the hands of Liventia, the Outliers are set to make a last stand against Dhemixia in a series that may well eliminate them from coming home for the knockout rounds of the World Baseball Classic.

Losing 8-3, 4-3, and 8-4 means that the Chromatiks sit at 13-11, two games behind Dhemixia for third place. To make matters worse, it means that they will have the worse head-to-head record against both Drawkland and Liventia, with the fact that Dhemixia won the first series 2-1 looming as well. Although the Outliers do face Nusandara to end the Group Stage, the matchup against Dhemixia may put them so out of reach that it won't matter.

It was the bullpen that blew Game 2, while starting pitching struggled in Games 1 and 3; the run support also wasn't very helpful as the Chromatiks couldn't score more than four runs. With Drawkland and Dhemixia both recording sweeps in their series, it was the worst possible outcome for the Outliers.

"We know that we can definitely play better than we did this series," lamented Alisen Mayamoto, "They got in our heads, we had a lot of unforced errors, and it looked like we were definitely out of sorts for stretches this series."

It will be a challenge as the Chromatiks head to Dhemixia, who should be in the best form they've been in the entire tournament, having won six of their last nine.

Time to see if Chromatika is ready for the music.

[Chromatika]

Cutoff for Series 9.

---

Blue teams have won the group
Green teams have qualified for the playoffs
Red teams have been eliminated

Group A

Game 1
Loyo                                        0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Haltoria                                    1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 X  4

Equestria                                   0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0  4
Natkr                                       1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 X  5

Quebec and Shingoryeo                       1 3 3 0 1 1 3 5 0 17
Eshialand                                   0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  2
Game 2
Loyo                                        0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0  5
Haltoria                                    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1

Equestria                                   1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0  5
Natkr                                       0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 1  6

Quebec and Shingoryeo                       0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0  5
Eshialand                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Game 3
Loyo                                        0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Haltoria                                    1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 X  3

Equestria                                   0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  3
Natkr                                       0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 X  5

Quebec and Shingoryeo                       0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  4
Eshialand                                   2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  5

Group A                  Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Quebec and Shingoryeo   27   20   7   192   91 +101
2 Eshialand               27   18   9   131  127   +4
3 Loyo                    27   14  13   139  128  +11
4 Haltoria                27   11  16    96  128  −32
5 Equestria               27    9  18   111  161  −50
6 Natkr                   27    9  18   110  144  −34

Group B

Game 1
New Montreal States                         2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
Solgavden                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Crpostran                                   0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0  3
South Newlandia                             0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1

Ranoria                                     0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  2
Ko-oren                                     1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 X  3
Game 2
New Montreal States                         0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0  4
Solgavden                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Crpostran                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1
South Newlandia                             0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 X  3

Ranoria                                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
Ko-oren                                     0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 X  4
Game 3
New Montreal States                         1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Solgavden                                   0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 X  2

Crpostran                                   0 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0  5
South Newlandia                             1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 3  8

Ranoria                                     0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0  3
Ko-oren                                     0 1 0 2 1 3 0 0 X  7

Group B                 Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 South Newlandia        27   20   7   146   90  +56
2 Ko-oren                27   16  11   141  116  +25
3 Ranoria                27   14  13   124  113  +11
4 New Montreal States    27   14  13   120  126   −6
5 Crpostran              27   11  16   131  153  −22
6 Solgavden              27    6  21   106  170  −64

Group C

Game 1
Srednjaci                                   0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0  7
The Martian Independent Republic            1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0  5

Soryeon                                     0 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 1  8
Zwangzug                                    3 5 0 1 2 2 1 0 X 14

Tikariot                                    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2  3
TJUN-ia                                     0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2
Game 2
Srednjaci                                   1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1  3
The Martian Independent Republic            1 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 X  6

Soryeon                                     0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0  2
Zwangzug                                    1 0 5 0 5 1 0 0 X 12

Tikariot                                    0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  4
TJUN-ia                                     1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  5
Game 3
Srednjaci                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
The Martian Independent Republic            0 5 0 3 0 1 4 0 X 13

Soryeon                                     0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2  7
Zwangzug                                    0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1  4

Tikariot                                    0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0  3
TJUN-ia                                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Group C                             Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 TJUN-ia                            27   16  11   135  110  +25
2 Tikariot                           27   16  11   123   98  +25
3 Zwangzug                           27   15  12   159  126  +33
4 Srednjaci                          27   13  14   106  122  −16
5 Soryeon                            27   12  15    98  132  −34
6 The Martian Independent Republic   27    9  18   126  159  −33

Group D

Game 1
Milchama                                    0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0  5
Zenic                                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1

Paradystopia                                0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1  3
The Kytler Peninsulae                       0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2

Drakur                                      0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0  2
Andso Mangis                                5 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 X  9
Game 2
Milchama                                    1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1  4
Zenic                                       1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3

Paradystopia                                2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0  5
The Kytler Peninsulae                       0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  3

Drakur                                      0 1 4 2 0 0 0 1 0  8
Andso Mangis                                0 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 1  7
Game 3
Milchama                                    2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0  5
Zenic                                       0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1

Paradystopia                                0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0  3
The Kytler Peninsulae                       1 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 X  6

Drakur                                      0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2  4
Andso Mangis                                0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1

Group D                  Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Milchama                27   19   8   166   87  +79
2 The Kytler Peninsulae   27   18   9   142   98  +44
3 Paradystopia            27   14  13   118  127   −9
4 Zenic                   27   12  15   120  123   −3
5 Drakur                  27    9  18    86  151  −65
6 Andso Mangis            27    9  18   116  162  −46

Group E Series involving Chromatika was scored by Tikariot

Game 1
Chromatika                                  0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 0  6
Dhemixia                                    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1  3

Liventia                                    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7  7
Nusandara                                   0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2  4

Drawkland                                   2 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1  7
Abanhfleft                                  1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Game 2
Chromatika                                  0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0  4
Dhemixia                                    0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2

Liventia                                    1 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0  7
Nusandara                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1

Drawkland                                   3 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 10
Abanhfleft                                  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Game 3
Chromatika                                  0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0  3
Dhemixia                                    0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1  2

Liventia                                    0 1 0 2 3 0 0 0 0  6
Nusandara                                   0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2  5

Drawkland                                   2 1 0 0 0 2 3 2 0 10
Abanhfleft                                  0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  4

Group E                 Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Drawkland              27   20   7   160   90  +70
2 Liventia               27   19   8   136  122  +14
3 Chromatika             27   16  11   137  124  +13
4 Dhemixia               27   15  12   158  133  +25
5 Nusandara              27    8  19   107  147  −40
6 Abanhfleft             27    3  24    93  175  −82

Group F

Game 1
Banija                                      0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0  4
Kamijiro                                    1 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 X  6

The Batavia                                 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2
Valentine Z                                 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 X  4

The Authority of the Underwater Cities      0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0  4
United States of Devonta                    1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4  6
Game 2
Banija                                      0 1 4 1 1 1 0 1 0  9
Kamijiro                                    1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0  4

The Batavia                                 0 0 0 1 0 7 2 0 1 11
Valentine Z                                 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

The Authority of the Underwater Cities      0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  2
United States of Devonta                    0 1 3 0 1 3 2 1 X 11
Game 3
Banija                                      0 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 1  6
Kamijiro                                    0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0  3

The Batavia                                 0 0 1 3 0 0 3 1 0  8
Valentine Z                                 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2  6

The Authority of the Underwater Cities      0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
United States of Devonta                    0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  2

Group F                                   Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Banija                                   27   24   3   176   80  +96
2 Kamijiro                                 27   20   7   160   96  +64
3 The Batavia                              27   11  16   147  158  −11
4 United States of Devonta                 27    9  18   108  171  −63
5 Valentine Z                              27    9  18   135  153  −18
6 The Authority of the Underwater Cities   27    8  19    99  167  −68

Current Third Place Table (Top four to playoffs):

01 E3 Chromatika                27   16  11   137  124  +13
02 C3 Zwangzug                  27   15  12   159  126  +33
T3 A3 Loyo                      27   14  13   139  128  +11
T3 B3 Ranoria                   27   14  13   124  113  +11
05 D3 Paradystopia              27   14  13   118  127   −9
06 F3 The Batavia               27   11  16   147  158  −11

[Ko-oren]

Season 32 Regular Season - End

*                         W    L       %    RF    RA     P    Div    P     Playoff GB    Home    Away   AMA   KGI   DES   ECH   STA   FER   KGE   TER   AVI   NIT   FUR   ARA
1   Amandine Wanderers   69   51   0,575   526   463   120    West   1   Div Round  0   37-23   32-28   0-0   4-2  14-10  2-4  13-11 10-14  6-0   3-3   5-1   4-2   4-2   4-2
2   Katashi Giants       68   52   0,567   555   501   120   South   1   Div Round  0   40-20   28-32   2-4   0-0   2-4   3-3   4-2   4-2  14-10  5-1  12-12 13-11  3-3   6-0
3   Desierto Challengers 67   53   0,558   565   509   120    West   2   Wildcard   2   34-26   33-27  10-14  4-2   0-0   2-4  14-10 12-12  4-2   5-1   2-4   4-2   5-1   5-1
4   Echizen Dragons      64   56   0,533   492   472   120   North   1   Div Round  0   35-25   29-31   4-2   3-3   4-2   0-0   2-4   4-2   2-4  11-13  3-3   3-3  11-13 17-7
5   Santa Teresa Stars   63   57   0,525   521   496   120    West   3   Wildcard   6   34-26   29-31  11-13  2-4  10-14  4-2   0-0  13-11  5-1   3-3   4-2   3-3   5-1   3-3
6   Ferrovente Whales    63   57   0,525   512   490   120    West   4              6   29-31   34-26  14-10  2-4  12-12  2-4  11-13  0-0   3-3   3-3   5-1   3-3   5-1   3-3
7   Katashi Generals     61   59   0,508   528   512   120   South   2              7   30-30   31-29   0-6  10-14  2-4   4-2   1-5   3-3   0-0   2-4  13-11 16-8   5-1   5-1
8   Teragaseki Originals 60   60   0,500   524   490   120   North   2              4   37-23   23-37   3-3   1-5   1-5  13-11  3-3   3-3   4-2   0-0   3-3   4-2  13-11 12-12
9   Aviansola Admirals   54   66   0,450   454   485   120   South   3             14   28-32   26-34   1-5  12-12  4-2   3-3   2-4   1-5  11-13  3-3   0-0  13-11  2-4   2-4
X   Nitoya Silvers       54   66   0,450   477   519   120   South   4             14   29-31   25-35   2-4  11-13  2-4   3-3   3-3   3-3   8-16  2-4  11-13  0-0   3-3   6-0
Y   Furune Bees          52   68   0,433   520   585   120   North   3             12   33-27   19-41   2-4   3-3   1-5  13-11  1-5   1-5   1-5  11-13  4-2   3-3   0-0  12-12
10  Arakura Knights      45   75   0,375   432   584   120   North   4             19   26-34   19-41   2-4   0-6   1-5   7-17  3-3   3-3   1-5  12-12  4-2   0-6  12-12  0-0

And there it is - a table based on a balanced season of 60 home games and 60 away games. Nobody can accuse the Originals of frontloading their easy games en route to a 36-24 top-of-the-league halftime score. Look where they ended up: it's hard to say 'I told you so' when it's another season of orange hearts being broken, another year of trying and coming up well short. Either way, they're 8th, at a perfect 60-60 record, 23 losses at home versus 23 wins away, and even their in-division records are nearly perfectly split 50-50 as well: 12-12 versus Arakura, and 13-11 against both Echizen and Furune. Well, we can tell where further improvements for the team can be found: how do you go a total of 25-23 against the two worst teams in the league - as it turns out Furune and Arakura are exactly that. The North, in general, was a bit of a messy division. We prepared you for that when we went in, we reinforced the message in the halfway look, and here it's laid out again, more definitive than before. The Echizen Dragons, despite a mediocre start, a pretty gloomy outlook before the season, managed to win the North once again. Another year of the Originals coming up short - but at least they're second in the division instead of 4th - of the Bees squandering a decently talented roster, and the Knights looking like world's most lost franchise.

Yes, it's the Dragons once more. Their rivals will have to deal with it - it's not like it was set in stone beforehand either. The division was wide open, but who expected the Bees to go from one game below .500 at the halfway point to 16 games below .500? The Arakura Knights kept their standard at the same level throughout the season, somehow tying the Bees and Originals 12-12 across their games - but going 7-17 against Echizen, making that the most uneven divisional series of the year. The next worst was 16-8 (Generals over Nitoya), and then we see a bunch of 14-10s, which are honestly quite even.

So beyond the North, the question was whether any Southern team could get into the postseason as a wildcard. We have our answer: they couldn't. Yes, the Katashi Generals - 22-28 and 12th at the halfway point - pulled it back to a winning season at 61-59, but that wasn't enough for a wildcard... they would've needed two more wins for that. Blame it on the spring games, after all, a game in week one counts as much for your record as the final game of the season. The Generals were a nice 30-30 at home, and they did have that 16-8 record over Nitoya, but they were never going to catch their city rivals, the Giants. The other Katahshi team went 68-52 and were so, so close to the number one seed, but ultimately fell short. Surely the Giants would've been able to farm one more win somewhere within a bad South division (they went 14-10, 12-12, and 13-11 against their division opponents). The Giants did have the best home advantage at 40-20. All in all they more than deserve their spot in the playoffs... but will they go to a third straight final (after losing both their previous attempts)?

The Nitoya Silvers and Aviansola Admirals are already looked down upon a bit for being from small towns, especially compared to the massive market Katahshi teams. For a while they had their moments of glory: the Admirals made the final five seasons ago and they've been able to rival the Katahshi teams most years for division titles, but they've fallen well short of their own benchmark. They were 32-28 at the midway point (as were the Giants!) but finished a dreadful 54-66, nine games behind the wildcard. A slide that'll have to be studied in detail as to how exactly something can go wrong so suddenly and then keep on going for months.

So that leaves us with the Western division - the one already rumoured to be a few steps ahead of the rest. We couldn't fathom just how incredibly far they were ahead, with the division winner - the Amandine Wanderers - ending up with the first overall seed, the next two teams - the Desierto Challengers and the Santa Teresa Stars - ending up with the wildcards, and the worst team in the West... still ended up with a winning record, two wins better than the runner-up of either of the other two divisions. This season was a masterclass in total domination by these four squads, and by nature of having only two wildcards, one of them will have to sit out the postseason either way. The Amandine Wanderers were second in the league at the halfway mark, the Challengers were third and stayed third, and the Stars pulled ahead a tad from their 30-30 midseason situation. Even the Whales, 10th at the time with a record just below .500, pulled back despite having to play most of their games in-division.

Of course, that goes for all four of them. The division records don't lie: the Wanderers were a tad better, by going 14-10 against Desierto and 13-11 against Santa Teresa... but they also gave it away by going 10-14 against Ferrovente. So ultimately they're only 1 game above .500 in divisional games. The Challengers were 10-14 against Amandine, 12-12 against Ferrovente, and 14-10 against Santa Teresa - also .500. The Stars? Well, we know they have a losing record against two teams, but at least they beat Ferrovente 13-11 in total - the only series that matters to them. And that means that Ferrovente are sitting on a drawn series, a lost series, and one won series, and that win being against our top team. The circle of parity doing its work.

Where the Western teams really showed their class was in all the other games. Obviously those wins have to come from somewhere. So we're seeing the Wanderers with a winning record against the Giants and Generals, the only losing record they have against playoff teams (or any non-division team, for that matter!) is our weird Echizen Dragons. The Challengers... huh, same thing, aside from a slip-up against Aviansola. The Stars? Only against the Giants, and divisional opponents. So the Stars might be a bit better than the standings suggest if only because they've routinely beat the rest. The Whales, then, have a bunch of tied series. On the whole, there's a lack of really lopsided series - only three 6-0s (Wanderers>Generals, Giants>Arakura, Silvers>Knights) and a huge amount of sensible 4-2s.

Looking back at the previews: we sure got a few things right. The Challengers, Wanderers, and Giants turned out to be our top three, just in a slightly different order. And the Generals weren't nearly as potent as we thought - but they only finished 3 games below where we thought they'd be. We just expected them to come away with a wildcard if anything. From there on out it gets worse, but remember that we did say that these teams are just about equals on most days. The Whales and Admirals were a good bit worse than we thought, the Stars climbed two spots from their preseason rankings. As for the northern teams: we had them ranked 9th through 12th. Yes, we had the entire division bottom four. And from those four, we did have Echizen as the best of the bunch, they just got about 10 more wins than we thought. This also shows where Aviansola went wrong: their best outfield in the league relied on Sop and Aiso, and with the former missing time and the latter injured for half the season - yeah, that'll mess with your win total.

Some other players that surprised us while lifting their team: the Giants' infield with Chapelle and Kiribata, the Stars' entire pitching side of the squad with Sautheidin, Wutjuthen, Fobenin, Soishetin: it turns out that sometimes, you can rely on rookies. Most of the league sees their young players as their biggest upsides by far, but the Stars made the playoffs purely on the back of them. And the Dragons found some talent in Reimeden and Ngajisein who could at some point form part of the Dragonflies' infield, if things continue like this. That also gives some of these teams a leg up for next season as well: the really young Stars and Dragons rosters look ready already, and we're going to expect a bit more from the Whales and Admirals as teams that missed the playoffs this time around. For the Whales it really hinges on their division taking a step back, though.

[The Batavia]

Apologies for the massive absence for the majority of the WBC. Life didn't allow me to focus on much else at the moment but I'll do my best for the remainer of this

The Democratic Republic of Batavia's National Baseball Team

Trigramme: BAT
Nickname: Dragons
Colors: Orange, Red, Black and Yellow
Homerun Theme: No Limit
Win Theme: De Vogeltjesdans

Roster:

Manager: #35 Max Kuypers

Batting Order:
1. Left Fielder - #30 Bas Verbeek (B: Right T: Right)
2. Designated Hitter - #1 Roos Jager (B: Switch T: Right)
3. Shortstop - #38 Felix Braun (B: Left T: Right)
4. Center Fielder - #3 Robin Bergman (B: Left T: Left)
5. Right Fielder - #8 Erika van der Meer (B: Left T: Left)
6. 3rd Baseman - #23 Thomas Hartman (B: Right T: Right)
7. 2nd Baseman - #72 Mehmet Çelik (B: Switch T: Right)
8. Catcher - #88 Mario Vos (B: Right T: Right)
9. 1st Baseman - #6 Lisa Lambert (B: Left T: Left)

(Batting Order without DH pushes Pitcher to the 9 hole, pushing everyone below 1 up by one)

Bench:
#66 Manuel Rojer (Catcher) (B: Switch T: Right)
#47 Emma Martin (Infielder) (B: Right T: Right)
#91 Joost Verhoeven (Infielder) (B: Right T: Right)
#53 Arthur Willems (Outfielder) (B: Right T: Right)
#29 Rick Cicilla (Outfielder) (B: Left T: Left)

Starting Rotation:
#1 Roos Jager (P: Right)
#13 Leon de Boer (P: Left)
#36 Jeroen Hendriks (P: Left)
#2 Sami Achmed (P: Right)
#7 Luigi Peeters (P: Right)

Bullpen:
#69 Jacob Maduro (P: Right)
#9 Alex Robert (P: Left)
#34 Martin Roland (P: Left)
#51 Elise Edmond (P: Right)
#67 Sander Hoekstra (P: Right)
#96 Joost Witman (P: Right)
#5 Sjoerd Valentijn (P: Left)
#77 David Werkman (P: Right)

Home Stadium:
Duinpark Stadion (Capacity: 53.000)
Located in Scheveningen in the capital The Hague, it is the home stadium of the Den Haag Phoenixes. Duinpark is located near the pier of Schevening, nicely along the beach, meaning that out of the park homerun balls will end up on the sand. Both left and right field are a bit beyond 350 feet and center field at about 410 feet. The walls are only about 10 feet tall, so homeruns shouldn't be too hard for sluggers if they hit the ball right.



RP Permissions
Choose my runscorers: Yes
Choose my lineup: Yes, standard lineup is noted above
Choose my scoring events: Yes
Follow my pitching rotation: Yes
Use DH at home: Yes, but the Ohtani Rule may be invoked
Eject my players: No
Godmod scoring events: Only if the other player allows godmodding too
RP injuries to my players: No
Godmod Injuries to my players: No
Godmod other events: Telegram me or ping me in the NSS Discord server beforehand

[TJUN-ia]

We knew that this could potentially happen. The final series at home against the team we swept to start this good run of fortune we had been on. Of course, meeting the Owls of Tikariot could lead to absolute disaster...but while this did not happen, what happened instead was certainly a warning.

Tikariot 3-2 TJUN-ia (F/12)
Mohammad Al-Rayyan vs Henrik Lundqvist would go on for quite a while. Like seriously, Game 25/30 ended being the first of our campaign to go to extras. It was a pretty tight, nervy affair that would only see 1 run scored by each team in regulation, so going beyond the 9th seemed inevitable. Things hotted up in the 12th, but as the Owls scored 2, we could only respond with 1 of our own. Just how it goes sometimes.

Tikariot 4-5 TJUN-ia
Game 2 between Yolande Sirapui and Sebastian Forsberg would be more conventional, with the game starting on our side of the alignment (via Seo Ji-kyo and Khin Marlar Tun) to Tikariot's in the space of a few innings. This would be a long slog, but in the end, the power of the bomb was within us as Julian Mertz tied us up in the 7th and Fernando Rodrigo Viera walked off the Owls in the 9th to the roar of the New Washington crowd. The Gardens were rocking in that moment, and in an instant, the series was tied.

Tikariot 3-0 TJUN-ia
The decider, JoJo McAlbo vs Gabriella Reyes, would be a tight affair until the middle...where the Owls finally shed themselves of the thing they created, score 3 runs, and shut us out for the 2-1 series win. It did hurt...but maybe this pain is necessary if we want to progress to the playoffs.

All that is left is Soryeon on the road, one final test to see who will make it to the dance. With only the Top 2 guaranteed to make it, winning this series will be crucial and getting a sweep will be the only way we can secure the group win, so we will need to work hard in all three games.

Our fate is in our hands. Let's not waste this opportunity.
GO BATTIN' JAGS!

---

SCHEDULE
S1: @Srednjaci (72) L 1-2 (5th)
S2: vs Zwangzug (6) - Rounders Field, Portside L 0-3 (6th)
S3: @The Martian Independent Republic (32) L 1-2 (6th)
S4: @Tikariot (11) W 3-0 (6th)
S5: vs Soryeon (UR) - Rounders Field, Portside W 3-0 (3rd)
S6: vs Srednjaci (72) - Rounders Field, Portside W 2-1 (2nd)
S7: @Zwangzug (6) W 2-1 (1st)
S8: vs The Martian Independent Republic (32) - The Diamond in The Gardens, New Washington W 3-0 (1st)
S9: vs Tikariot (11) - The Diamond in The Gardens, New Washington L 1-2 (1st)
S10: @ Soryeon (UR)

[Zwangzug]

Group C's coming down to the wire.
As we're fighting the Tika fire,
But now it's the Jags
who lead while our team lags,
and everyone hopes to climb higher.

Kelvin's someone we could depend on
but he twisted his Achilles tendon
so now Vadnagar starts
and brings stress to our hearts
since he's not as good at defending.

"Take the safe out, don't try to be clever!"
the coach yells, but Ryan says "whatever."
He never will learn,
so when he tries to turn
two, it's always a futile endeavor.

It leads to annoyed infield chatter
instead of the "hey, batter, batter."
But nobody knows
how this last series goes:
if we get swept, it might not matter.

[Loyo]

Loyo’s Automatic Qualifying Hopes Over With a Series to Go

It hasn't been all sunny for the Sunshine Tigers’ first international competition under Peter Ajoba’s leadership. The first half of qualifying was surprising, as Loyo's new stars struggled to find a rhythm , generating hits and walks but failing to turn those opportunities into runs.

While the team has managed a winning record in the second half, they'll need to play exceptional baseball against Natkr, who won the first series 2-1 to stay in the qualification zone. Lucky for Loyo, they'll have the home advantage in the teams final group stage games. While the series is ongoing, national team fans will be carefully monitoring results from Chromatika, Zwangzug, Ranoria, Paradystopia and The Batavia, who also currently hold 3rd place in their group.

Hosts Chromatika are almost guaranteed to qualify during their final series against unranked Nusandara, leaving just three spots left. Zwangzug plays a strong Srednjaci side away from home, Ranoria gets home advantage against unranked Solgavden, Paradystopia plays Andso Mangis and The Batavia (The team furthest out from the qualifying slots) finishes qualifying against unranked United States of Devonta.

While the odds are on Loyo's side to qualify if they win the final three games, anything can happen in a series, especially when run differential comes into play. A slip like what happened in the 8th inning of game one against Natkr could spell the end for Loyo's qualification hopes.

An uncharacteristic error from Rosa Stadler let the home team score a run with two strikes remaining to escape the inning, leading to a chaotic 3-batter sequence with back-to-back walks from a tiring Raj Preta, who was then pulled for closer Eris Pandovska, who gave up a single before retiring the side. While Loyo tied the game in the top of the 9th off a clever line drive from Tea Huishan, sending Cain Jose and Jenna Albardoux home, Eris Pandovska gave up a heart-sinking homer to the second batter in the bottom of the ninth, setting a somber tone for the rest of the series.

“It's hard to not have it get to your head,” said a chilled Pandovska following the series. “It's my fault we lost that game. I missed my pre-game ritual and I knew that ball was leaving the park when I threw it. Like a premonition..."

Pitching coach Seung Hawoo has been working with the young closer, using techniques he learned from his extensive career with the Sunshine Tigers.

“She built a miniature May Revolution Park out of toothpicks,” said Hawoo at a press conference following the 7th series. “She has this mind palace. She'll stare at it and hum for an hour and a half before her games. She's looking at it in the dugout when everyone else is hanging by the fence. You snap your fingers in front of her eyes— she can't see you.”

"When she's not playing, she's locked in on that model," said reliever Kwan Ngar. "She's not here, shes not on this planet. She's there."

Also threatening to take third place in their group is 14 win New Montreal States, 13 win Srednjaci and a powerful Dhemixia, sitting fourth in Group E with 15 wins and a +25 run differential. With the right results, these teams could easily unseat the teams above them to qualify with their strong records up to this point.

Seeding is important as well. Finishing in the top two third-place teams would be preferred, as fan murmurs about facing a world-beating Banijan squad in the Round of 16 confront a team that has never beaten a team in a knockout series.

Peter Ajoba didn't mention specifics when heading into the final series, but expressed his pleasure with the development of team chemistry over the last 27 games.

“We're a different team now. We knew the group stage would be more of a challenge than we've had in years past, because of the turnover on and off the field,” Ajoba said. “Our first games against Natkr didn't go as well as we'd like, but we're playing our best ball of the tournament right now. The team is ready—and hungry for a rematch.”

“This is our field, our country. Our last chance to show the fans our appreciation for their support,” said Aden Colosi. “We know we belong in the knockout stage. We just have to prove it.”

Series 10 Starting Lineup: v.s. Natkr
Players without L/R are switch hitters

SS: #6 Rosa Stadler, L, 29 (Loyo Athletic Reds)
CF: #41 Zhao Shuchun, 26 (St. Yoosan’s)
LF: #29 Jenna Albardoux, R, 31 (Marraya Lions)
DH: (If Applicable) #21 Cain Jose, R, 28 (Odonhai Bulls)
1B: #2 Tea Huishan, R, 29 (Sayosona Cockerel)
3B: #24 Aden Colosi, R, 27 (Marraya Lions)
2B: #50 Xinyi Tang, R, 30 (Loyo Athletic Reds)
C: #33 Jackson Free, R, 27 (Narangara Motors)
RF: #15 Zaida Moraviza, R, 24 (Kwanya Stallions)
(PITCHER SPOT for non-DH games)

SP Game 1: #34 Micah Jones, L
SP Game 2: #5 Chang Guangda, R
SP Game 3: #45 Jan Robbas, R

[Milchama]

"So it's pretty straight forward"

"What do you mean?"

"Win and we're in"

"Well we're already in"

"Win the series against Kytler Peninsula and we win the group"

"Oh yeah that was straight forward"

"And if we lose?"

"Well they would have the tie breaker so we finish second"

"And with the tiebreakers?"

"Weirdly, right now, we own the second tie breaker, head to head run differential, despite losing the series because they won two games by one run and we won one game by more than 2 runs so we would win on a tied head to head matchup"

"That is a weird one, well I guess we could lose one game by a lot but that seems unlikely"

*both quickly knock on wood*

"So we're basically ok"

"Yeah"

"That sounds good"

"So that's the big thing in this series"

"I mean we really don't have anything else to play for, also seeding is important because it shows us whether we will be upset in the quarterfinals by a lower seed or whether we will lose in the quarterfinals to a higher seed"

"God that's so depressing"

"Ok but it's true"

"It is true"

"So what can you say?"

"What do you want me to say? What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing, it's just depressing is all"

"Good, glad we agree on that"

"What can we do?"

"Go outside, get some water, touch grass"

"Oh that sounds nice, see you soon"

"See ya!"

[South Newlandia]

Good enough

In their final home series of the World Baseball Classic, the Elephants hardly impressed, but did enough to secure the Group B title. Against world number 36 Crpostran, the bats, which had been fairly reliable so far in the tournament, almost completely failed to show up. Across the first 24 innings of the series, the Pachyderms scored a measly 6 runs, which simply isn’t good enough.

After taking the loss in game one of the series, the Ellies were bailed out by an excellent start by Wolodymyr King in game 2. The veteran southpaw didn’t allow Crpostran to score a single run in seven innings in his final start before the playoffs, which the Elephants secured with this win. After a wobbly eighth, John Trunkman came in to lock down the save in ninth, and did so beautifully, which allowed the Elephants to skate by with just three runs on five hits in the win.

They wouldn’t have that luxury in game three. Dylan Borges struggled early, and once again, the Ellies didn’t get much traffic going. Borges couldn’t clear six innings, the Elephants were trailing, and it increasingly looked like they would take a second consecutive series loss, something that doesn’t happen to South Newlandia all too often. Crpostran continued piling on in the eighth, with Maria Thompson struggling, and the Ellies found themselves down 2 to 5 with just six outs to play.
South Newlandia got one back in the eighth, thanks to Lio Fischer notching an RBI single, which also meant that they’d get the top of the order up in the ninth; but they were still down by two against the Crpostran closer. Barros led off with a flyout, but Teresa Mills managed to draw an eight-pitch walk after a lengthy battle. That set the stage for a clutch Sofia Löfgren double, putting the tying run in scoring position. Crpostran could have decided to intentionally walk Philipps, perhaps increasing their chances to win the game inside nine innings, but they balked (not literally) at putting the winning run on base for South Newlandia. The South Newlandian Designated Hitter managed to poke through a single that a shifted defender might have been able to cut down, tying the game for South Newlandia and eventually sending the game to extras.

After a new reliever for Crpostran had managed to keep the Ellies off the board and force a tenth inning, Franklin Bell called on John Trunkman once again. The star reliever managed to work around a leadoff walk, facing the minimum anyway after inducing a 6-4-3 double play; giving the Ellies another chance to win it. Pohl started the inning off with a hit into left, but Lio Fischer went down on strikes. Theo Möller popped out, and Crpostran was on their way to force another frame. Instead, the pinch-running David Wagner swiped second, and the opposing manager decided to walk Barros, who’d reached a 2-0 count, to get the forceout in play with first base open, despite there being two outs. Teresa Mills responded by crushing the first pitch she saw, a fastball down the middle, for a big three-run walk-off home run to dead centre, securing the 20th South Newlandian win of the campaign, and getting to emphatically raise Fluffy for a walk-off for the first time.

In a press conference after the game, Franklin Bell stressed that there remains much to work on for the team, noting that if the batting doesn’t improve, they’ll find themselves flushed out early in the playoffs. However, “the team once again demonstrated grit, turning things on for a comeback win, which is something we can and will build on”.

With a 20-7 record, the team has secured first place in Group B with a series in New Montreal States to play, looking to improve their seeding headed into the playoffs in Chromatika. Banija has already outpaced the field with a sparkling 24-3 record, but the Ellies, currently in 4th on the table, could still finish anywhere from 2nd to 6th, with extremely different playoff implications as a result.

[Kamijiro]

Diamond IX, Vol. IV, Part VII: Sunrise in the East

"So, we can't win the group." Orielle started her team talk with her typical blunt, somber tone. "That's disappointing. We all know we could've snatched it from Banija. It was right there in front of us if we just... took our chances."

"But we didn't." Ryuji Phaëthon jumps in. "We didn't do that. And why? Because some people here, not going to name names, had already assumed we'd won against opponents that we should be crushing." He makes a pointed look at the computer that Atsuji, Maou and Tenshi were calling in from, the three stooges who'd made critical mistakes against The Batavia and had cost the Diamond IX two games against a side that was otherwise very underwhelming in the competition.

"Let's not be unreasonable. I did fine pitching." Atsuji puts his hands up. "I only gave up what, three runs in the first game that series? Three for the whole game, and the bats were fast asleep. Speaking of fast asleep, wake the fuck up, Napoleon. Don't fall asleep in the team meetings. Lord knows you fall asleep while batting enough anyway."

Napoleon looked indignant as always. "Oh yeah, it was totally my fault they walked me eight of the nine times I was up to bat in that series. My bad. Meanwhile, Wings can't even tell the infield to shift the right direction, and he's too busy daydreaming about whatever it is his old ass daydreams about."

Magurix facepalms. "Can we stop pointing fingers? Seriously? I mean, look. We came in second place in a group that we were projected to finish second place in. Our record is 20-7, which is either the same as or better than every other group leader in the whole competition. We can clearly win games, we just were unlucky to also end up in the same group as a powerhouse team like Banija. We'd have already clinched first place in Group C with that record, by the way."

Orielle finally speaks up again. "Look. Tomorrow, we'll wake up. The sun will have risen in the east. Life goes on as normal. It's just baseball. I know it's frustrating not to win, but let's face it. Most of us here aren't pro players. Hell, most of us can't even practice more than half of the year because we're so busy with work or our familial commitments. So let's not take it too hard that we're second place to a team that's literally comprised fully of professional baseball players. Just... keep pushing. We'll be fine. Our window to winning a title is still wide open yet."

With that, the team finally was silent again. Thoughtful silence, for once, not because of tension. Then a voice that doesn't come up often speaks:

"Yooooo, cap. That was like... really inspirational and stuff... but I'm hungry. Can we eat now?" Devyn Navire asks. "I'm like... starving."

There's a silent pause, then nothing but laughter. "Are you serious? That's your takeaway from this?" Orielle says, red in the face, trying really hard to keep her captain's demeanor on her face before it cracks and she laughs too. "Fine, meeting adjourned. Go eat, Devyn."

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

The Phoenix fire was doused by the ice of the pteron-powered Paradystopia over the first two games of the series - not to mention the mysterious Xet'i speedster that is Nheyu, who stole second, third, and home as a pinch-runner in the eleventh inning of Game 1 to secure what turned out to be the decisive run - but a 6-3 win in the series closer, in which Zoe Anderson was the standout with three doubles combining for as many RBIs, meant the Phoenix are both locked into a qualifying spot and have made the series in Milchama a straight shootout for the top spot in the group, with the 18-9 Phoenix holding the tiebreaker edge over the 19-8 Warriors should they be on the positive side of a split series after doing just that (in strange negative-run-differential fashion) when the sides met in Alaer.

Either way, the Phoenix look set to meet a group runner-up of some form, as they should either be the second-weakest group winners (after whoever wins the bloodbath that is Group C) or one of the top four runners-up. That sets up potential meetings with Ko-oren - who were staring down the barrel of a second straight failure to advance to the playoffs following their shock league-phase elimination in WBC61, but dramatically rescued their campaign with a sweep of Ranoria - along with occasional chess competitors Eshialand and fellow Rushmoris Liventia.

Perhaps the most tantalising prospect is a Pavolan derby with Tikariot - and although a few things would have to break for that specific matchup to happen, the same is true for any other specific showdown, there's just more visible complexity in Tikariot's chaotic Group C. And also more obvious interest, which is why Phoenix manager Dean Charles was asked about it.

"Of course it would be special if it happened," he acknowledged. "It would effectively be a Rushmori championship series, or be sold as one at least - Liventia are no mugs either and they'd fancy a go at both of us for sure - and the hype around it in both countries would be great. I think it would actually reinforce baseball as a major sport in Tikariot, which is very much a soccer-first nation to a greater extent than we are, and that would be a great outcome for the sport and for Rushmore as a whole, reinforcing this part of Rushmore in particular as one of the absolute sporting hubs of the multiverse. And obviously we have a rivalry aspect when West Pavolan nations meet in anything but it's definitely a friendly one, we're cooperative neighbours that obviously have been dealing with the Graintfjall situation in recent years, and we share a common goal of representing ourselves with pride in international competition and gaining respect."

In a thinly veiled reference to the anti-RPD movement that prevented a generation of Kytlerians from doing so, he added: "I think that last bit has actually been harder inside our country than outside it at times."

Considering baseball has a strong following in Varn, that was sneakily a rather bold statement to make. The usual extremist suspects would turn on him, probably issuing all sorts of threats, and some of them might have the capacity to act on those threats...

[Tikariot]

Episode VII: The Morning Edition of Letharne

Letharne is just regular medium-sized city in Taeria. It doesn't shape national events, it doesn't host major institutions. It mostly just exists as a regional hub; administrative, functional, predictable, boring.

Its newspaper, the Letharne Chronicle, reflects just that with routine reporting you will find literally anywhere across Tikariot, Rushmore and beyond. Local developments, shipping notices, minor legal proceedings, civic updates, obituaries and sports. So, definitely not the type of publication you'd be looking at for something special or groundbreaking. That's why, at first, nobody really realized what was happening.

The First Instance

The earliest confirmed incident appears in a preserved issue dated just over thirty years ago. A small article, positioned near the bottom of the second page, reports on a warehouse fire along the southern district, with all the usual details you would normally find: Location, estimated time of ignition, extent of damage and a statement from a responding official. An unremarkable article, if it was not for one very particular detail: The fire had not yet occurred.

Records from the time show that there indeed was a warehouse fire, however, it only took place later that same day. In the early afternoon. The newspaper had been printed and distributed in the morning. People didn't really connect the dots and thought it was the regular post-event report. Nobody questioned it.

Subsequent Occurrences

Weeks passed, then months, nothing extraordinary happening, until there was another isntance. A traffic collision reported in detail, vehicles, intersection, injuries, one person dead. Just like months before, the event occurred later that same day, just like months before, the article had been in the morning edition. This time, someone noticed. The person who would die in the accident.

It would be reported that the person saw the article and his name and decided to drive to the newspaper to inquire about this to see if it was an ill-timed prank. He died in an accident on the way there. The accident that was in the newspaper.

Internal Review

The newspaper conducted a routine internal check, verifying editorial workflows and printing schedules. Everything was done by the book, the article was written, approved and set in type as part of the regular overnight cycle.

There were no records of late insertion or external interference with the files. The official explanation was misdating, an error in the archive, which was quietly correected and swept under the rug.

The Third Article

The third instance was harder to dismiss. This time, it was a partial collapse of a canal wall in the old river district. It included a full structural analysis, quotes from multiple engineers and a projected repair timeline. Just released in the morning for an event happening in the evening.

It was not a prediction or anticipation, the report did not read as speculation, but rather as a detailed documentation.

The Language

When an independent commission was instated, going through archives and comparing incidents with reporting, they found a pattern beyond these three articles. None of the articles read as if someone was trying to morbidly predict something or use conditional language. They never suggested a possibility of something happening but were fully reported and described events, completed as though written after the fact.

None of the events were particular large, with the exception of the man dying on the way to the newspaper to complain about his death being reported, no major disasters or political upheaval. They were all local events within the city limits, specific and contained, basically things that would be reported, read and then forgotten.

The findings of the commission led to a formal inquiry, initiated by municipal authorities. The newspaper granted full access to the aarchives and they examined everything, from print records and drafts to editorial notes.

In each confirmed instance, the article existed in finalized form prior to the event, the content matched the event with high accuracy and while minor details occasionally differed slightly, the core occurrence always was reported in correct detail. None of them had any drafts that would suggest the article was altered after approval.

The Staff

Logically, the attention turned to the editorial team, the writers, editors and typesetters. Interviews were inconclusive, nobody recalled writing an article about an event before it happened or receiving information that could be seen as proof. In most cases, the credited author had no clear memory of writing the article in the first place.

The Limitation

One detail, however, became clear: The articles only appeared in the morning edition, never in later or special editions, always only in the first distribution of the day. Also, only in physical print, the digital archives showed that the reports were only posted after the event had occurred, as it should be.

The Public Awareness

The pattern was never widely publicized, for one, the events were small and scattered and even when someone noticed, they were easily dismissed as errors or misremembering. It also was not something the newspaper really talked about publicly, as they were worried about their credibility. Only a small group of archivists and the inevitable internet sleuths followed the articles and catalogued them. Without any real explanation because there was none.

The Present Day

The Letharne Chronicle still operates, as so many newspapers with reduced circulation and mostly an online presence, but still active. They only release a physical morning edition now, there is no monitoring program in place or any formal effort to track potential discrepancies.

Closing

The purpose of a newspaper is to document, to record events as they occur. There is always a logical sequence: Cause, then effect, or event and then report.

The Morning Edition of Letharne does this, bot accurately and consistently, and has done so for the past 115 years. Just not always in that order. And for those who have compared the records closely, the unsettling conclusion is not that the paper predicts the future. But that, in some cases — it has already been written.

[Drawkland]

7,000

History of the Hit Record - The Contender - Glenn and Gelia - The New Fire - Shooting For 6 - Vow Renewal - Chasing .400 - A Pleasant Surprise - Jamming the Blues - Lingering Questions - Oh Brother - Beach Bums - Bargaining with Bellator - The Corps Trio - Get Kash

The race for 6,870 hits was on in earnest. It seemed that Lane Kavana was swinging more naturally. Perhaps it was the familiarity of Bellator, or maybe the vibes of a Cavaliers clubhouse that was doing plenty of winning and keeping consistent momentum. For Lane, he’d found the sweet spot of personal preparation: being aware of his own tendencies and what he would face against opposing pitchers, while not overthinking and second-guessing himself once he was actually at the plate.

The work Lane did in Gelia with the Blues had set a foundation for his current success. That stint was the first time that Lane had to come to terms with his own aging. He wasn’t the player he once was. He couldn’t make the swings or catch the pitches that he once could. However, Lane had always been a bit of a tinkerer with his plate approach. After a couple years of discovering his own pitfalls and simplifying his mindset, he’d reached a zenith for bat-to-ball contact.

That’s the real “secret” to how Lane had hit .400 two seasons prior in Gelia. That’s how he managed to rebound despite the nagging wrist injury hampering his abilities for most of the previous season in Akkor Beach. That’s how he was continuing to tap balls around the field in this final stint with Bellator. Lane understood and acknowledged his limitations, studied his opponents intently before each game, and knew exactly what to look for every time he came to the plate.

It was a little ironic, even. Many power hitters sit in the box and wait for “their pitch” to arrive so they can smash it. If they don’t get that sort of pitch, they merely accept the outcome of the AB as the pitcher controls it. Lane was in a similar boat: he was just hunting for his pitch. The main difference was that Lane didn’t need something tailor-made for a home run. As long as it was something he could poke through the infield or lace into the outfield, it was good enough. His bat control was also helpful in spoiling away borderline two-strike pitches to extend at-bats and give himself more opportunities to receive a hittable pitch.

As the first half of the PBL season went on, this approach was finally recognized and lauded. He’d gotten some credit for it back in the .400 season, but most people assumed that was partially a fluke, especially with how his subsequent season was rather lackluster. Now it was much more obvious that he was chasing the hit record, and it wasn’t going to be a gradual journey to reach by season’s end. This was intent, and it was clear he wasn’t going to be content with just [record+1].


[Hype Train]

It was about three weeks before the All-Star Break that PBL decided to start intentionally marketing Lane’s race to the hit record. Lane had picked up more than a few doubters and naysayers in the back end of his career. Some were fans of previous rival teams that sought to tear down one of the legends of their own rivals. Others were those that enjoyed the years when Lane would hit 50+ homers and hated that he didn’t seem interested in trying to do that every year. There were even a few who bowed at the altar of slugging and disliked that Lane was hardlining the “old-fashioned” contact-first approach. When it came to this run for the hit record, though, even those haters had to begrudgingly tune in.

It got to the point where Bellator fans (and fans of their road trip opponents who hoped to see part of history by coming to the ballpark) would complain every time Jerry Pearson left Lane out of the Cavaliers lineup for a rest day. Hilarious, given the fact that a solid chunk of Cavalier fans, once Lane’s signing was announced that offseason, said they’d riot if Lane got too much playing time over their favored players. Lane didn’t mind where he was batting in the lineup as long as he was starting. Every plate appearance was precious.

Each day Lane inched closer. 6,856. 6,857. 6,859. 6,860. 6,862. He didn’t have a true hit streak going, as he’d go hitless around once a week, but the progress was steady and noticeable. Once he reached the mark of 6,866 hits, it was officially time to hype up every game the Cavaliers played. Lane already had a couple 4-hit games that year (in fact, he’d logged at least one in every PBL season he’d played). Now every time he started was a potential day that Titus Kash’s record would fall.

Lane Kavana launched hit #6,867 over the short wall in right field at the Bellator Batting Grounds for his last at-bat of a Cavalier home stand. He sat three hits away from tying the record, four from breaking it. The Cavaliers had a break day for travel, then had a two-series road trip scheduled that began with a three game interleague battle with the Drawk City Scouts. There was always a risk of a slump to delay the assumed record-breaking knock, but that was no reason to not drum up interest for these games.


[Record Falls]

The logistical convenience could not be overstated. It was so much of a perfect coincidence that Lane himself wondered if the PBL administrators somehow had the gift of foresight when assembling the league schedule for that season. Though Lane had never played for the Scouts, he’d played hundreds of games in their home confines of Hydrogen Cyanide Field. That was the very same venue where the Base Corps played a vast majority of their home games. Since Lane had played in every World Baseball Classic for Drawkland since the 47th edition, he’d grown quite fond and familiar with the mismatched architecture of the ballpark.

Being in Drawk City meant that it was easy to maximize attention. The nation’s largest city and former capital was a huge market and obviously favored by national broadcasters. That made it child’s play to parlay the third game of the series into a national broadcast on a flagship channel, while the first two games received preferred treatment on Drawkland’s main baseball channel and streaming service. Anybody who wanted to tune into the games could easily find a way.

The first game of the series wasn’t a hit explosion that the fans who hopped on the slightly cheaper tickets hoped for. Lane did collect #6,868 on his fourth and final at-bat of the game, which did light up the crowd but wasn’t too exciting in the grand scheme of things.

The second game did have a much more interesting share of drama. This one was a night game, and as the evening waned in Drawk City, Lane put on a show. His first two at-bats? Both hits, and the ball was absolutely scorched each time. In fact, all four at-bats ended in balls put in play over 90 miles per hour off the bat. Unfortunately the last two ended in outfield gloves before they could become the record-breaking hit. The second hit, a single arced over the first baseman’s head, tied Kavana and Kash on the alltime list to thunderous applause in a sold-out Hydrogen Cyanide Field.

Titus Kash had been caught.

Unfortunately for the game two fans (and fortunately for the TV broadcasters), the potential record-breaking hit would have to come in game three. Naturally the networks were prepared to give a national broadcast to the next Cavaliers series if needed, but with the buzz in Drawk City and Lane’s own stress, everybody wanted that hit to come in game three of the series. Everybody except the pitching staff of the Drawk City Scouts, that is. None of them wanted to be the one to give up the record-breaking hit. At best they’d have to watch themselves give up a hit in highlight reels for the rest of their lives. At worst they’d be accused of grooving the old man an easy pitch to pick up the milestone. Nobody wanted to deal with that.

Lane preferred it that way, if anything. He wanted this to come on his own merits, not handed on a silver platter. Not like he was going to ignore a meatball if it came his way, or try to intentionally hit a tougher pitch for a base hit. His good performance this season already was sourced from his ability to tune himself out and not overthink his approach. If there’s a pitch to hit, it’s a pitch to hit.

The first two at-bats of the game, Lane got pitches to hit. He just missed them, though. One was a flyout to center field, another was a hard chopper to second base. Both times Lane was denied the record. Fortunately, the rest of the Cavaliers lineup was having no issues getting the ball to fall. By the time Lane came up for a third time, they’d already chased the Scouts starter and dipped into the bullpen.

This was still a challenge. Lane had to contend with a lefty reliever (brought in to face Silvanus ahead of Lane), meaning he was hitting from the right handed box. He’d been a switch hitter his whole career with relatively even splits, but his right-handed swing had lagged behind a bit in the last few weeks. It was as tough a challenge as any. After two pitches, though, Lane had an idea. With a fastball on the outside and a fastball up-and-in making the count 1-1, he figured that something offspeed would be coming next, most likely low.

The pitcher came set and fired home. Lane recognized the speed as the ball travelled. He knew it wasn’t a fastball. The moment he recognized the arc of the ball, he decided to swing. It was a changeup destined for the back foot, but Lane timed it perfectly and caught it out front. The ball was looped to the left side of the infield … and flew over the leap of Cassius McCoy at third base. The crowd popped immediately, and Lane was able to trot to first base casually to collect hit number 6,871.

Titus Kash had to settle for second place.

Lane Kavana had the most base hits in Drawkian history. He didn’t pad that total with his last at-bat of the game, but that didn’t matter. Even though he was still focused on his next goal, he wasn’t afraid to enjoy and celebrate this moment. There was a long pause in the game directly after the hit as the ball was thrown in by the left fielder and collected to be preserved. That would be going to the Hall of Fame. And most likely, in exactly a half-decade, Lane would be joining it.


[All-Star]

Lane Kavana wasn’t a top three outfielder in the DL. He didn’t get enough starts at designated hitter because of Silvanus. Saying that he was the best first baseman would be a stretch with how well some first basemen in the league are known to slug. Yet when a thirty-year legend in the league achieves immortality (figuratively, since in Drawkland that’s a necessary distinction), it’s hard to convince the mob of fans that the guy doesn’t deserve one last All-Star nod. To be fair, he’d been batting over .360 pretty much all season. Even if most of them were singles, it’s difficult to ignore that level of production.

All that in mind, it wasn’t a huge surprise when Lane received an invitation to the All-Star game as a backup outfielder. In fact, a late scratch to another outfielder meant that Lane actually got an opportunity to be in the starting lineup. However, Lane insisted that he hit from the 9 spot in the batting order, not wanting to bring any extra attention to himself.

Really, Lane started to feel a degree of fatigue with the media circus around the hit record. Throughout the last half-decade he’d been hoping for at least some recognition for his efforts. He was met with mostly derision or confusion. Now that he had actually achieved the goals he’d set out for, they were all over him. It somehow felt worse. These things weighed on Lane’s mind throughout the week leading up to the break, once his spot on the DL All-Star roster was confirmed.

The game itself went fine for Lane. He had two plate appearances before getting pinch hit for in his third at-bat. The first AB was a chopper to deep short that was fielded and flicked to first base by fellow national teamer Elizabeth Houston. The second AB, however, was much more Lane’s style. After working to a 2-2 count, Lane got an outside changeup that he waited on perfectly and laced into the opposite field gap. He managed to hustle it into a double, receiving a nice ovation at ORTC Park in Shire-Port for his efforts.

Even with that pleasant sendoff, Lane still felt some misgivings when he got approached for an interview after the game. He didn’t think too much of it, until he got a question that set him off.

“With your all-star appearance and Titus Kash’s hit record broken, it looks like you’ve already had quite the successful season. Is it just autopilot from here on out, or are you paying special attention to anything for the second half?”

“Autopilot?” Lane scoffed. He shook his head almost incredulously. “Absolutely not. I don’t half-ass anything, not when I have an opportunity to play this game. I know some people think I’m done now that I’ve hit the record, but I’m not going to stand idly by. I’m on a team that expects to win. I have my own goals, too. I know everybody’s excited about the hit record, but I still have milestones in my sights.”

“Milestones? You already have incredible career numbers across the board. What more is left for you to accomplish?”

“It’s a long season,” Lane replied cryptically. “I expect to hit just as well in the second half as I did in the first.”

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

The Taegukgi: The Korean-language voice of the Quebecois Commonwealth

2073 Mega-Byelection Live Blog: Liberals out to make splash run, opposition on defence with leadership implications to come

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15th of May 2073 - 09:00 a.m.

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Polls open out east

Corentin Mah

It is exactly 9am here in Beara-Khan, as the wait ends and the polling stations are now open!

Voters in the first three constituencies - Beara-Khan, Songwha-Ravenscraig and Seunghakpo-Lansdowne-Kejimkujik - are now able to cast their vote.

For those interested, please follow our how-to super-byelection guide on what's to expect, what's to follow and everything else!

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15th of May 2073 - 09:20 a.m.

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Nationals' Woo says he's aiming for 'a statement win'

Corentin Mah

The Nationals' leader Warren Woo was at the town square this morning, promising to the public that 'a win in rural Inteachan' is 'how to show our way back to the core values'.

In front of a sellout crowd of about 1,000 he made his pitch for the day:

'Look, ladies and gentlemen. This isn't going to be the last people are gonna hear about the Nationals. Lots of the debate out there right now is about how we balance rural, regional Shingoryeo with that of the national priorities. And here's a thing. We don't have to sacrifice one for the another. A strong Shin-goryeo comes when our punchbowls are full of our booze, and our breadbaskets filled with our finest grains. And let's start that here, on the western coast of Inteachan our emerald isle.'

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15th of May 2073 - 09:40 a.m.

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Asked about his stance with his primary adversaries, Greens' leader Shimon Reid, and the Prime Minister Kang Tae-Goo, and how he's come to frame this byelection slate, Woo was quick to pick his trenches: 'This isn't about the battle of personalities, but about keeping the right checks and balances on the country's overall health.

The MP for Notiskuan-Ynys Dywyll made sure to point out that his focus is on flipping the flippables, and letting the rest handle itself 'as opposed to being consumed by hatred':

'Mr. Reid's hatred of average Quebeco-Shingoryeoites, and all his whininess about how the country's becoming a militarised petrostate, deserve every bit of mockery, that's correct. For a party that's been built to its finest heights by my colleague, Florence Stanasila, who was so gracious to let the party decide its own future without her shadows, he has chosen the way so hateful and out of touch with the working folks of this country. And guess what? He's still without a seat after losing last two general elections. And he still wants to claim that the country isn't what it used to be? That's not the Tricolour Taegeuk way I've been taught, neither his father and grandfather would have had.'

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15th of May 2073 - 10:00 a.m.

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Kang Tae-Goo makes final pitch to byelection voters

Kim Seok-Ho

The Prime Minister Kang Tae-Goo was in Gaepoong early this morning. Coming to a riding that's widely expected to be a Liberal hold, featuring a legacy candidate, Kang appeared to be relaxed and if anything, optimistic about the outlook. When asked about how the byelections would turn out, Kang suggested no complacency to come from his own party:

'Do not go gentle into that good night, as the old quote would say.

We cannot lead ourselves into thinking that the polling figures are everything. This, after all, is the first time we will be trying the two-legged runoff system. Under those anything can happen, and upsets even more so. Sometimes the voters would want to punish the government or the incumbent party, and they are very much right to do so. There is no right or wrong about all of this.

What matters here, however, is that we hold our strongholds well, swing big into the targettables, and let luck figure the rest out. Let's not overly stress out over it really. Good luck, have fun and don't die really.'

When asked where his next destination will be, Kang was gracious to quickly suggest that Hills of Madeleine would be his next. 'The Kangs have been great friends of ours, dating back to my Young Liberal days, and I'm of course happy to give my vote of confidence to Alois (Milette-Salgado).'

[Dhemixia]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)
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Playing spoiler was more fun anyways

Schedule:

Series 1: vs. Nusandara W 2-1
Series 2: @ Liventia L 1-2
Series 3: vs. Abanhfleft W 3-0
Series 4: @ Chromatika W 2-1
Series 5: vs. Drawkland L 1-2
Series 6: @ Nusandara W 2-1
Series 7: vs. Liventia L 1-2
Series 8: @ Abanhfleft W 3-0
Series 9: vs. Chromatika L 0-3
Series 10: @ Drawkland

This sucks. Dhemixian baseball really sucks. I hate this. Please free me from having to watch this team.

Every cycle it's the same thing. You get your hopes up, do fine in the group, be absolutely horrible at closing down games, and then miss the knockouts because Pythagoras isn't a real one. Count your days buddy. You can do so by using that little theorem of yours.

Arguably the funnier part about it all is that the Serps may actually finish with a better record than some teams who won their group and still miss the knockouts. It's actually impressive how much they manage to suck every game. You're in a great spot entering game one, up two games on the team you're playing, destiny fully within your grasp. Guzman goes a solid five before getting chased after letting up two in the sixth, but that shouldn't be a problem, right? The Serpents score three in the last two and lose 6-3. You know what, that's fine. We've still got one game over them and have two more to win this series! Andrews only lets up one through seven and leaves the game tied. Gustavo Benson comes in for the eighth, and I think you know what happens. Walk, HBP, three-run nuke. Chromatika wins 4-2. That's fine though! We may be tied, but we've still got a chance to win the last game and create some separation, right? Robertson lets up three through 6.2 and the Dhemixians can't muster more than two.

They get swept when they need to just win one game. That's the only sweep they've suffered this tournament, and it comes at the worst possible time.

All there is to do now? Be an inconvenience to the Base Corps. That's all they really want to do anyways. That's all Dhemixians were built to do, and they intend to have as much fun as possible while doing it. Sure, they'll be sitting in Ashialand watching the knockouts unfold, but it wasn't ever about how much you won for the Serps anyways.

[Chromatika]

Sweep! Chromatika Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

6-3. 4-2. 3-2. Three games, three saves for Katrina Pavlova, three stellar performances from the starting pitchers, and the Outliers are on the doorstep of coming home for the knockout stages of the World Baseball Classic. What felt like an absolutely deflated clubhouse after the sweep at the hands of Liventia look like a team poised to make it back to the playoffs, and all the momentum is with the Outliers with Nusandara left on the schedule and the Dhemixian team having to take on Drawkland.

"We played as a unit - the starting pitching was great, the situational batting was the best it's been this entire tournament so far in comparison, and we finally looked like a team," commented Manager Alisen Mayamoto.

Give Syr Gaillen, Eddard Friend, and Ashleigh Witters some credit. Witters, who didn't have the best start to the tourney, has really steadied her game in the last couple starts, making the decision on who would be the starters for the Outliers in the playoffs an interesting story. Gaillen will have one more shot against Nusandara to make her case, while Friend and Witters are done.

Miles Sturdevantt continues his stellar tournament to date, Alena Egorova is their second best option, and things look very, very much on the up-and-up for a Chromatika team that has been hot and cold.

Time to keep the heat on the rest of the competition and return to the knockouts.

[Chromatika]

Final cutoff for the Group Stage. This may take a while. Round of Sixteen Games 1 and 2 will be on Saturday due to RL circumstances.

---

Blue teams have won the group
Green teams have qualified for the playoffs
Red teams have been eliminated

Group A

Game 1
Haltoria                                    1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  2
Quebec and Shingoryeo                       2 0 0 6 1 1 0 4 X 14

Eshialand                                   0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0  4
Equestria                                   0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2  5

Natkr                                       0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  2
Loyo                                        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Game 2
Haltoria                                    0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Quebec and Shingoryeo                       3 0 4 3 0 2 0 0 X 12

Eshialand                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2  4
Equestria                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0  2

Natkr                                       0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Loyo                                        0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X  2
Game 3
Haltoria                                    0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Quebec and Shingoryeo                       3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 X  6

Eshialand                                   3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2  9
Equestria                                   0 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 2 0  7

Natkr                                       0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2
Loyo                                        2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 X  3

Group A                  Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Quebec and Shingoryeo   30   23   7   224   95 +129
2 Eshialand               30   20  10   148  141   +7
3 Loyo                    30   16  14   144  133  +11
4 Haltoria                30   11  19   100  160  −60
5 Equestria               30   10  20   125  178  −53
6 Natkr                   30   10  20   115  149  −34

Group B

Game 1
Solgavden                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  2
Ranoria                                     0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 X  3

Ko-oren                                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0  6
Crpostran                                   0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1

South Newlandia                             3 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 0  9
New Montreal States                         0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Game 2
Solgavden                                   0  0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Ranoria                                     2 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 X 14

Ko-oren                                     0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  4
Crpostran                                   0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0  2

South Newlandia                             0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0  5
New Montreal States                         0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Game 3
Solgavden                                   0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Ranoria                                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 X  2

Ko-oren                                     1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0  4
Crpostran                                   1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1

South Newlandia                             1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
New Montreal States                         0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 X  3

Group B                 Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 South Newlandia        30   22   8   162   95  +67
2 Ko-oren                30   19  11   155  120  +35
3 Ranoria                30   17  13   143  117  +26
4 New Montreal States    30   15  15   125  142  −17
5 Crpostran              30   11  19   135  167  −32
6 Solgavden              30    6  24   110  189  −79

Group C

Game 1
The Martian Independent Republic            1 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0  8
Tikariot                                    1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1

TJUN-ia                                     0 0 0 0 2 3 1 0 0  6
Soryeon                                     0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  2

Zwangzug                                    1 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 1  9
Srednjaci                                   0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  3
Game 2
The Martian Independent Republic            1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0  5
Tikariot                                    1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0  4

TJUN-ia                                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4  6
Soryeon                                     0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0  4

Zwangzug                                    2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 6 12
Srednjaci                                   1 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0  5
Game 3
The Martian Independent Republic            0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0  4
Tikariot                                    1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 X  5

TJUN-ia                                     3 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 10
Soryeon                                     0 4 0 1 1 0 0 4 2 12

Zwangzug                                    2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0  6
Srednjaci                                   0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0  2

Group C                             Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Zwangzug                           30   18  12   186  136  +50*
2 TJUN-ia                            30   18  12   157  128  +29*
3 Tikariot                           30   17  13   133  115  +18
4 Srednjaci                          30   13  17   116  149  −33
5 Soryeon                            30   13  17   116  154  −38
6 The Martian Independent Republic   30   11  19   143  169  −26

*Zwangzug ahead of TJUN-ia via H2H Result (4-2)

Group D

Game 1
Zenic                                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1
Drakur                                      0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 X  2

Andso Mangis                                0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
Paradystopia                                1 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 X  6

The Kytler Peninsulae                       0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Milchama                                    2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 X  5
Game 2
Zenic                                       0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
Drakur                                      0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 X  5

Andso Mangis                                0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1  4
Paradystopia                                0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0  3

The Kytler Peninsulae                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
Milchama                                    0 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 X  8
Game 3
Zenic                                       0 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0  6
Drakur                                      1 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 4 10

Andso Mangis                                0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Paradystopia                                0 0 1 0 0 1 8 1 X 11

The Kytler Peninsulae                       0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
Milchama                                    0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 X  3

Group D                  Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Milchama                30   22   8   182   91  +91
2 The Kytler Peninsulae   30   18  12   146  114  +32
3 Paradystopia            30   16  14   138  133   +5
4 Drakur                  30   12  18   103  160  −57
5 Zenic                   30   12  18   129  140  −11
6 Andso Mangis            30   10  20   122  182  −60

Group E Series involving Chromatika was scored by Quebec and Shingoryeo

Game 1
Dhemixia                                    0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Drawkland                                   1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X  2

Abanhfleft                                  0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0  5
Liventia                                    0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  2

Nusandara                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1
Chromatika                                  2 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 X  6
Game 2
Dhemixia                                    0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Drawkland                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 X  3

Abanhfleft                                  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Liventia                                    0 0 0 0 5 0 1 1 X  7

Nusandara                                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1  4
Chromatika                                  0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0  3
Game 3
Dhemixia                                    1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2
Drawkland                                   2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 X  4

Abanhfleft                                  2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
Liventia                                    0 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 X  6

Nusandara                                   0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Chromatika                                  1 1 1 1 0 4 0 0 X  8

Group E                 Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Drawkland              30   23   7   169   95  +74
2 Liventia               30   21   9   151  130  +21
3 Chromatika             30   18  12   154  130  +24
4 Dhemixia               30   15  15   163  142  +21
5 Nusandara              30    9  21   113  164  −51
6 Abanhfleft             30    4  26   101  190  −89

Group F

Game 1
Kamijiro                                    0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  3
The Authority of the Underwater Cities      0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  4

United States of Devonta                    0 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2  8
The Batavia                                 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 1  7

Valentine Z                                 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  4
Banija                                      0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1  5
Game 2
Kamijiro                                    0 3 1 0 2 0 0 1 1  8
The Authority of the Underwater Cities      0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2

United States of Devonta                    0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 2  5
The Batavia                                 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 4  8

Valentine Z                                 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0  5
Banija                                      0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0  3
Game 3
Kamijiro                                    3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2  8
The Authority of the Underwater Cities      0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0  2

United States of Devonta                    0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
The Batavia                                 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 X  5

Valentine Z                                 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Banija                                      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Group F                                   Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
1 Banija                                   30   25   5   184   91  +93
2 Kamijiro                                 30   22   8   179  104  +75
3 The Batavia                              30   13  17   167  172   −5
4 Valentine Z                              30   11  19   146  161  −15
5 United States of Devonta                 30   10  20   122  191  −69
6 The Authority of the Underwater Cities   30    9  21   107  186  −79

Playoff Table

Po Gr Teams                 Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD 
01 F1 Banija                 30   25   5   184   91  +93
02 A1 Quebec and Shingoryeo  30   23   7   224   95 +129
03 E1 Drawkland              30   23   7   169   95  +74
04 D1 Milchama               30   22   8   182   91  +91
05 B1 South Newlandia        30   22   8   162   95  +67
06 C1 Zwangzug               30   18  12   186  136  +50
07 F2 Kamijiro               30   22   8   179  104  +75
08 E2 Liventia               30   21   9   151  130  +21
09 A2 Eshialand              30   20  10   148  141   +7
10 B2 Ko-oren                30   19  11   155  120  +35
11 D2 The Kytler Peninsulae  30   18  12   146  114  +32
12 C2 TJUN-ia                30   18  12   157  128  +29
13 E3 Chromatika             30   18  12   154  130  +24
14 B3 Ranoria                30   17  13   143  117  +26
15 C3 Tikariot               30   17  13   133  115  +18
16 A3 Loyo                   30   16  14   144  133  +11
EE D3 Paradystopia           30   16  14   138  133   +5
EE F3 The Batavia            30   13  17   167  172   −5

---

WBC 62 Playoffs - Round of Sixteen
Best-of-Five Series

(1) Banija vs. (16) Loyo
@ Vipers Den, Sanar, Rainbow District (Cap. 8,100)

(8) Liventia vs. (9) Eshialand
@ The Range, Lanar, Rainbow District (Cap. 8,500)

(4) Milchama vs. (13) Chromatika
@ KnetyoDome, Knetyohai, Rainbow District (Cap. 10,500)

(5) South Newlandia vs. (12) TJUN-ia
@ The Sting, Shantarr, Heartland District (Cap. 4,300)

(6) Zwangzug vs. (11) The Kytler Peninsulae
@ The Headquarters, Hanai, Capital District (Cap. 9,100)

(3) Drawkland vs. (14) Ranoria
@ The Field of Flames, Felswyr, Mountain District (Cap. 5,200)

(7) Kamijiro vs. (10) Ko-oren
@ Field of Legends, Larhai, Coastal District (Cap. 6,200)

(2) Quebec and Shingoryeo vs. (15) Tikariot
@ The Barracks, Rhoni, Coastal District (Cap. 9,250)

[Ko-oren]

It's the end of series 7. The Dragonflies just copped three straight losses to that one team that keeps handing us Ls and we keep taking them like a good boy - South Newlandia. At 10-11 in a group that's massively crowded for spots 2 and 3, chances of surviving the group are low. Morale is low. The team is just getting to the dugout after fielding an inning that sees the Elephants score a three-run homer to secure a 3-6 scoreline. At 109 runs scored, the team is just in the top half of scoring, and at 105 conceded, the team's allowed about 2 runs per game more than South Newlandia and 1 run per game more than Ranoria - while it's still a better stat than the other three teams (who allowed 110+ each), this team does not feel like a winning combination. That's all while the team was definitely capable of something, as demonstrated in a 3-0 shutout win over New Montreal States.

And then a staff member runs his mouth in a press conference. Not even to complain about someone specifically, just a complaint for the wind to carry to whoever's in charge of answering prayers.

To whoever that was: thanks, you've done a phenomenal job.

The Dragonflies went on to finish the last three series 9-0, finishing just three games behind the group leader, qualifying for the knockouts in second place. So what was going differently after that? The team first faced Solgavden, a team tied to last place in the group but by no means an easy victory - we've seen this team blow way more likely wins - but when Visser crushed a fastball for a grand slam home run to win 7-4, a weight fell off the Teragaseki Originals' outfielder's shoulders. Visser hadn't exactly played a flawless tournament, in fact, he was arguably the worst batter in the lineup and was moved down the order while Aiso bided his time to take over at the right outfield position. Either way, the staff stuck with him and he gave them this win, though, across 22 games, being around replacement level for 21 of them might not warrant a starting spot. It was a start, though.

The team had to clean up offensively and defensively. There were changes: Paljizen, Sautheidin, and Peinoinin, all young starting pitchers, were given extra rest days and Ohashi and Namioka were given a few games to cover for the rookies. Visser was moved up in the order for as long as his hitting streak lasted, Jidazen lost first base to Kenguzhen, and Aiso filled in on the left outfield over Falozen a couple innings. Did we say 'there were changes'? We meant 'there was a decent overhaul', and it came at the exact right time. Don't give your new guys immediate PTSD over having to face the Elephants, then ease them in during a relatively soft stretch in the calendar - it's just that the team had expected to be over .500 at this point in time.

Games two and three against Solgavden were all defence: in eighteen innings, the visitors scored one (1) run and as the Ko-orenites scored 11 there was little doubt about the result and whether it was deserved. Pretty much the entire lineup improved its slash stats: Matsuoka and Pijpenbroek got on base plenty and both ran home twice in both games, Shiina got a home run, Visser batted in three, Aiso picked up a couple doubles and got two home, and even Newich was involved in the offence, cleaning up the bases in the fourth inning of game two and setting up Matsuoka to get home in the final Ko-orenite inning of the series. The team was now over .500 but moods hadn't necessarily improved yet. The team was still behind where they thought they'd be, but you can only improve one win at a time.

Series nine was when the Greenblues climbed back up to second place, this time against Ranoria - the team occupying second place until that moment. Not a series against a bottom tier national team, but proper opposition at a time in the competition where these wins really matter. This could be a statement win, if only the Dragonflies don't fold again under the least amount of pressure. And defensively, they held up: we had Vasquez (their fourth game already), Ohashi (second start), and Namioka (first start) starting on the mound, and collectively the starters were responsible for three runs given up across three games. Ohashi was entirely clean, even: game two had Ranoria scoreless until the final inning, and all in all they scored 6 runs versus Ko-oren's 14. Oh yes, the team was ticking now. And unlike the Solgavden series, this time the runs only came one or two at a time - just get on base often and at some point somebody's going to go full circle.

Going 3-0 when your biggest rival for second place goes 0-3 is so, so necessary at this point in the competition. And then there was series 10, against Crpostran, a team that had been in the running for the knockouts but started falling apart towards the second half of the group stage. They had a very small chance - if Ranoria wouldn't go 3-0 against Solgavden, and if New Montreal States would go 0-3 against South Newlandia, and if they'd go 3-0 against us themselves, then we'd have a three way tie for third at 14-16... and oh no, that wouldn't be enough on the third place table anyway. Knowing that it's hard to get active. And so the Dragonflies allowed just four runs in the series (1, 2, 1) while scoring 14, including batting around the entire order for six runs in game one, inning eight, to secure a 6-1 win. Yeah, that was the only scoring inning for us, but if you're sort of getting used to the idea that anything can happen and 'anything' includes positive outcomes, it's a little easier to believe. Game two came together on the Crpostran starter not entirely feeling it - or just really good and/or lucky hitting - and game three was won across three little gaps in the defence, one run each for the first three innings.

With sensible baseball, without a game where you're scoring 10+ runs in a game, just solid, consistent good play (and a hell of a clean up on the pitching side), going 9-0, getting second place (albeit in the lower half of runners-up) is just a good score for where this team is. We were promised an end to the pitching shortage, and we're not entirely feeling that yet, but it's starting to get there. With 120 runs conceded we're just about middle of the road for the knockouts - well behind the group winners except Zwangzug, ahead of the third placers aside from Chromatika and Loyo, and with 155 runs scored we're also quite middle of the road (and we're not going to compare ourselves with the 224-run Quebecois - nobody should, they're 38 ahead of the next best team). But middle of the road is fine: it means you're somewhat solidly top eight for the time being, which might just, with a bit of luck, be enough to overcome Kamijiro and then the fun's going to stop against Quebec or Tikariot if we're even blessed enough to make it there.

We've asked for a blessing before and it worked, it might just work again. The staff sounded like they didn't have a plan but then still reacted to what their team was doing and what it needed, and the ceiling of this team is hopefully somewhere in the quarterfinals, but there's enough work being done to make this the floor at some point.

[Milchama]

"Well that was a series"

"Yeah it took awhile but the team seems in gear for the playoff"

*both knock on wood very furiously*

"Oh yeah they certainly do, a much better second half and we made our run differential advantage count"

"Fundamentally, we went towards the median"

"Exactly"

"Ah, regression to the mean, it's generally good stuff"

"So what are we now?"

"We're the 4th seed"

"That's good"

"We're playing the hosts"

"That's not as good"

"Pretty much"

"Is that the update?"

"Yeah, I would say that's the basic update"

"What would you expect?"

"I would expect us to do well because Chromatika isn't quite what they once were and we're in form"

"Small sample size though"

"Yeah that's the one issue but it feels like the team is finally coming together"

"Of course we'll lose in quarters"

"Oh definitely, unless TJUN-ia beats South Newlandia we're getting swept in quarters"

"Yep"

"Do you think that will happen?"

"No idea, based on history, no. But Elephants baseball seems to be in a bit of slump so who knows"

"Do you think it matters that we're starting the series with our 4th starter?"

"Vashington? The man who won the one game playoff last year in the MBL, who started the first game of the Arrosian Series for the Ships? It's crazy that we have that kind of pitching depth. Milo Vashington would be an ace for a few teams in the playoffs and he's our 4th starter, that's fine. Also, we get our top 2 after that so this will be great"

"Hopefully it'll all work out"

"That's how I'm feeling"

[Zwangzug]

Breaking news, everyone, get the scoop:
after all that, we won the whole group!
It's kind of insane,
but we won't complain
about being thrown for a loop.

The Phoenix who rose from the flames
also won eighteen of their games.
So they'll be the next
to show up in our text
even if we can't rhyme their names.

The star right fielder on this team
was mostly just known for the meme,
but he hit with power
in their clutchest hour:
turns out he's more than he might seem.

They’ll be quite the rivals to face:
let’s try our best not to disgrace
ourselves against these REBLs:
the tenors, the trebles,
and those trying to get on base.