World Baseball Classic 47 Everything Thread

[Free Republics]

World Baseball Classic 47: Free Republics

This is your Finals Game 3 Cutoff presented by Citrus TV Plus! Citrus TV Plus: Watch any of our growing library of over 5 shows for free for a year if you buy a new Citrus device!

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Third Place Series Game 5 Result

Team Name    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 Total
Cassadaigua  3  0  1  1  1  3  2  1  0   12
Ethane       1  0  0  0  2  2  0  2  1   8

Cassadaigua wins series 3 games to 2

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Finals Game 3 Result

Team Name  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 Total
Ko-oren    0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   0
Banija     1  0  1  1  1  0  0  1  X   5

Banija leads series 3 games to 0

[Cassadaigua]

In Mrs. Harrison's third grade class, the teacher gets up to teach the children the vocabulary word of the day,

Good morning kids, today's word of the day is something that one should never, ever do. It is seen as something very bad.

"You mean like kill someone?" a little, hockey-obsessed boy known named Jason asked. The teacher smirked and replied, "No, Jason, one should never, ever kill. That is something that of course is absolutely terrible. This word describes something not that serious but still is something that one should never do."

"My mom tells me not to steal things from people," a girl named Abby answered, "Stealing is something that is very bad, too."

Mrs. Harrison nodded. "Yes, Abby, one should never steal anything from anyone. In a sense, I guess, this word could describe something that is seen of stealing something from someone more deserving. It is something that one should never do, but being able to do it means you worked really, really hard in the past, to just maybe, pull it off just once."

A smart kid named Margaret replied, "Maybe sometimes rewarding someone's past work just a little bit when they worked really hard before isn't that bad at all, as long as they don't keep doing it."

Margaret was certainly a smart young lady. The teacher smiled and told the kids the word of the day. Rankcoast. A bad, bad thing. One shouldn't do it. Unless Margaret says its ok.

[Banija]

Banijan baseball on verge of nation's first major international title after 2nd straight shutout over Ko-oren


Banijans celebrate hard-earned Game 3 victory over the Dragonflies

REPUBLICA, REPUBLICA DISTRICT, FREE REPUBLICS- Baseball, of course, more so than any other major sport, is, and has always been, a game of numbers. SO let's play the numbers game. 34- the number of games we've won across this entire tournament, from Matchday 1 of Casaran play to this very moment, the morning after Game 3. 25- the number of players who are on this roster. 22- the number of players on this roster who played in World Baseball Classic 46, who had Banija's first run to the semifinals in this sport, before losing in a tightly contested series with the now present bronze medalists Cassadaigua. 12- the number of games this team has currently won in a row, after dropping the first two of the opening Best of 5 with A Mushroom Kingdom. 20- the number of consecutive scoreless innings that the Banijan pitching staff has thrown to this point. And most importantly, 1- the number of games we have to win to win our first ever WBC Championship.

The title, of course, is not won. We are on the brink, we feel it- but the last game to win, is always the hardest. Ko-oren knows what winning a trophy is like, they are going to fight like hell to ensure that we extend the series at least one more game. And once they do that, then who knows what can happen? Doubts can start to creep in each day that we delay winning that fourth and final game. The pressure rises from all sides. The other team gains confidence. We came back down 2 games to nothing in a best of 5- Ko-oren certainly has the pitching and the skill to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Winning Game 4 is the best way to show the multiverse, truly, who is the best baseball team in the world right now.

But of course, we must talk about this game. Duta Condé has been utterly and absolutely dominant throughout the knockout stages, delivering for Banija in a series of big games. Even though he's only 3rd in this rotation, he is certainly a big game starter. First, of course, Banija's backs were against the wall in Game 3 against A Mushroom Kingdom, as they were a game away from getting swept straight out of the tournament, and looking at an early exit. But Duta Condé stepped up. He pitched 7.1 innings, and allowed only a single run. Then, of course, because Banija's rotation got scrambled in Games 4 and 5, it would be Duta Condé who would be called upon to pitch Game 1 of the Quarterfinals, against The Greater Nordics. He allowed just a lone earned run over 7 innings, getting a no decision. In the closeout game against Ethane, he punched Banija's ticket to the WBC Championship Series, allowing a pair of earned runs over 6 and 2/3s innings. His career knockout stage record is 4-1 over 7 starts, with an ERA of 2.73. His knockout stage record for this tournament is 2-0 over 3 starts, with an ERA of 1.71.

And he's pitched under all kinds of pressure. Trying to earn Banija's first win in the knockout stages when we had our backs against the wall. Trying to win a Game 1, going against the undisputed ace of the rotation of the Greater Nordics. And, of course, in the closeout game against Ethane. And now, pitching in the WBC Championship Series, he saved his best performance for when the lights were brightest. Duta Condé absolutely and positively dominated the batting order of the Ko-oren Dragonflies. Banija's best strategy has always been this- allow its starters to go deep into a ball game, skip the middle relief entirely, and hand it off to the back end of the bullpen. If the long relievers, or the middle relievers, are pitching, it is a problem as they are Banija's weakest point.

Duta Condé took care of all of that himself, and then more. After getting batted around by the Dragonflies lineup in Game 1, although escaping with a victory thanks to a late, 2 run home run by Jonkong Sillah, the Banijan pitching staff has been lights out. Shutting out the Dragonflies in Game 2, and they did the same here as well. But it was only one pitcher on the mound for the entirety of this one- Duta Condé. Duta Condé threw the first complete game of the knockout stages for any Banijan starting pitcher, working his way through and around the Dragonflies pitching order. Ousman Kakay, maybe since Duta Condé had some solid run support, trusted his starter the whole way. And Duta Condé had to earn it. 112 pitches thrown, 5 walks, but just a lone hit, a 2nd inning single.

It was a stellar pitching performance. Of course, he is quickly become a legend of the knockout stages. In 8 career starts in these stages, he now has a 5-1 record with a 2.28 ERA. And in this tournament's knockout stages, he has a 3-0 record with an ERA of 1.20. Simply put, the man is on fire. It is not Assan Condé, it is not Banta Jawara, who has been Banija's best pitcher throughout the knockout stages in this tournament, even though those are the two stars. No- it is Duta Condé, the 24 year old alumnus of Northern Moravica University, who has been Banija's best pitcher. He's helping his own WBBL draft stock, and of course, his own positioning in the rotation for the next classic. They pass over him for starts in the Casaran stages to get the two pitchers above him more starts- but can Kakay afford to give him less starts if he keeps pitching like this?

IT is a question that must be asked. And now, of course, we look to Game 4. It will be tough- Suntukung Kandeh, against Ko-oren southpaw Suta Akija. WE all know what's at stake for the Banijans. IT will be an interesting pitching matchup. Thanks to the pair of Banijan sweeps in the quarterfinals and semifinals, it has been quite a while since Kandeh saw game action. He pitched a pair of innings in relief in the closeout game of the quarterfinals, and did not pitch at all in the semifinals. HIs last start was 11 games ago. Almost 3 weeks ago, in terms of days. Will Kandeh, who will attempt to close out this series, be well rested? Or has it been too long since he's seen game action, and will he be rusty?

That's the question that must be answered. Of course, remember Suntukung Kandeh pitched well in closeout games in the last classic, starting in the close out games of the Round of 16 against Ethane, and the quarterfinals series against The Sherpa Empire. So he's seen this kind of pressure. But never with this much rest, or rust, depending. Can he deliver Banija it's first title in baseball? Or will the young left hander be thwarted by his opposite? We'll find out tonight, on public television, as Banija tries to win one more game and win the WBC Championship Series.

[Free Republics]

World Baseball Classic 47: Free Republics

This is your Finals Game 4 Cutoff presented by BearOil! BearOil: Fueling your life!

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MD 4 Result

Team Name  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 Total
Ko-oren    0  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  1   3
Banija     0  0  0  2  0  2  1  1  X   6

Banija wins series 4 games to 0

Congratulations to Banija for winning their first WBC title, commiserations to Ko-oren and thanks to everybody who participated!

[Banija]

Setting is Demba Baturu during the Top of the 9th inning of Game 4

Demba Baturu was the Banijan closer. He, of course, like the rest of the bullpen, was watching the game closely. Suntukung Kandeh had an adequate performance- definitely good enough to win. Banija's 4th starter, making just his 2nd start of the knockout stages, had thrown 5.1 innings, allowed 2 earned runs. He was going to get a no decision. Ensa Suso had gotten the last two outs of the 6th inning, and after getting some run support in the bottom half of the inning, the Banijans were in line to win. It was a bases-loaded, 2 out, ground-rule double by Cyper Kandeh that gave the Banijans the lead in the bottom of the 6th, one that they had not relinquished- yet. Suso pitched the 7th inning as well in this WBC closeout game.

Then, of course, it came to pitching the 8th inning. The setup man, Sarjo Touré, pitched the 8th inning. He made quick work of his Dragonflies opponents, getting through the inning in 1-2-3 fashion, in only 8 pitches. It was at that point when Demba Baturu got the call from the manager. "Demba, start warming up. I want you available in the 9th." And then, of course, the closer started to warm up. He did his warmup as he usually does- slowly building velocity. He tried to not focused on the bottom half of the 8th inning in this 5-2 game, though of course, the many Banijan fans were hard to ignore when the Banijans added yet another run of run support. No longer a save situation- but that was irrelevant. He knew he'd be called upon in the 9th inning.

When the half of the inning ended, he got another called from Ousman Kakay. "Demba, sit this one. I want you to ensure you are warm- but Sarjo Touré has done well pitching in this game so far. I'm going to ask him to get the last 3 outs- but be available if we need you." Demba, of course, wasn't happy about it, but Ousman was the boss. Demba was 33 years old, and the oldest player on the team. Chances are, this was his last World Baseball Classic. It was, of course, his dream to close out a championship series, and what championship is bigger than the World Baseball Classic? The nerves of trying to get the last out in the World Baseball Classic, however, got to Sarjo Touré. He allowed a leadoff single. Then, a double brought home the runner from first. Then, he saw Ousman climb out of the dugout and make the signal towards the bullpen. It was Ousman's turn.

He opened the gate, and did the long jog from the left field bullpen to the pitcher's mound. Ousman Kakay handed him the ball. They trusted each other- they both just nodded, and he nodded to all of his infielders, who went back out to their positions. The ask was clear- control yourself, get these last couple of outs, and win the World Baseball Classic for his country. The first batter he faced was Jasuviro Esumi. Geele asked for three straight fastballs inside, and two of them were strikes, with the first being a ball. And then, Geele called for a breaking ball, inside. Baturu threw a sinker, and he was happy with it. Esumi swung ahead, expecting fastball, and the offspeed pitch got him. One away. Then, Peredo came up. Lefty. Baturu threw a fastball away, for ball one. Baturu threw a slider away, the ball was slapped to Lalo Diene. Diene picked it up, and threw the batter out at first. Two away.

The nerves really started to hit. Lema was the final batter Baturu would face. Three strikes were between Baturu and a World Baseball Classic championship. His first pitch, he missed badly, with a fastball away. Second pitch, a curveball hit the dirt. Third pitch, a fastball high. 3-0 count. Fourth pitch, a fastball just low. The nerves, the pressure were getting to him. He had just issued a four pitch walk. The pitching coach, Yakuba Borussa, walked up to him. "Demba," he said. "You are feeling too much pressure. Don't think about it. This is a normal game, like any other. You have to get one out. You can do it. Take the pressure off. Take a deep breath- now." And Demba had a large deep breath. The nerves were there, but the focus was returning. Borussa walked back.

Ko-oren's next hitter came to the plate. Demba Baturu was focused. A slider almost in the dirt was scooped out of the dirt by this hitter, the tying run, who was chasing. He popped the ball into the air. Baturu pointed to the sky, signalling a pop up, and ran to home plate as the Banijan catcher went towards the ball, in case things went disastrously. Geele called everyone off, and got under the ball just in front of the pitcher's mound. Demba Baturu threw his hands in the sky, and started yelling as the team poured onto the feelings. That beautiful feeling. Emotion coming over him. Champions. What a feeling, what a moment it was.

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Banija completes 4 game sweep over Ko-oren to win first ever WBC title


Banijans celebrate 1st ever WBC title

REPUBLICA, REPUBLICA DISTRICT, FREE REPUBLICS- What a sport this is. What a game, what a sport, what a series. In what is probably, at least to date, the greatest moment in Banijan international sporting history, our country, after competing on all fronts, has finally captured our first ever major international sporting title. We have schools that have combined for a trio of NSCF titles. We have a Sporting World Magazine Cup title under our name. But in terms of major, senior-level, international titles? That part of the OCB's cabinet was bare. So many close calls. So many semifinals in the World Bowl, all lost. Many great group play runs in the IBCs, only for them to be ended prematurely in the knockout stages in basketball. And, of course, don't even get started about Banija's many failed attempts to win the World Lacrosse Championships. But this team- it was truly a team of destiny.

This team into this tournament, bubbling with confidence. And we played well throughout the Casaran stages of the tournament. But it is the knockout stages where this team truly came alive. Almost immediately, Banijan baseball was tested. A Mushroom Kingdom outdueled Assan Condé in game 1, to take a surprising 1-0 series lead over the Banijans. And then, in stunning fashion, they chased out Banta Jawara in the first inning of Game 2, so that almost immediately, a team that had largely cruised through Casaran Play was facing elimination. A lot of questions were being asked of the Banijans- this team would go out and go 23-9 in Casaran play, and then get immediately swept by an unranked A Mushroom Kingdom side that just barely got there at all? The Banijans were on the ropes, in need of a victory, and they then decided to give the ball to knockout stage maestro, Duta Condé. He's the man who always rises to the occasion, and it took a dominant performance to get back on track.

There were plenty of struggles throughout that series. But it was win 3 or go home for the Banijans after going down 0-2, and that is something that we pulled off, coming all the way back. In a way, that series comeback largely defines this team. It showed the fight, it showed the confidence, it showed the team spirit of togetherness that these men had in the locker room, and it showcased the mental toughness necessary to make the kind of run to end up with a championship, something that has not been shown by Banija's national basketball teams, or lacrosse teams, or gridiron teams. They did not get down on themselves. They had some heroic performances. Assan Condé had to pitch three innings of relief in Game 4 of that Round of 16 series for the Banijans to even have a chance. And then, with just 5 outs remaining between the Banijans and an early elimination, Yakuba Kah broke Mushroom Kingdom hearts with a towering 2 run shot, to take the lead, and never look back in both that game and that series, as the Banijans dominated in the decisive Game 5.

But it went beyond that. That Game 2 was the last time the Banijans had lost in this Classic. The Banijans finished this classic very impressively- winning 13 games in consecutive fashion to lift its first ever WBC championship, and have now truly joined the sport's elite. With that title, the Banijans get that respect, as they are now a blue blood baseball power. The team simply got better and better as the knockout stages went on, facing opponents and putting them down, a game at a time. None of those victories were easy- and yet, all of them were earned. A Jonkong Sillah walk-off in Game 1 of the quarterfinals. An absolutely wild 18-10 victory over Ethane in the semifinals. And, of course, Banijan clutch hitting facing the back end of the Ko-oren bullpen. Jonkong SIllah being the man of the hour once again, hitting a go-ahead 9th inning home run in Game 1 of the WBC Championship Series. Banija's pitching becoming absolutely unhittable in the latter 3 games of the series, allowing only 3 runs combined in the last 29 innings pitched of this series.

It was a stellar World Baseball Classic to watch, and to see Banija's true arrival on the world stage in this sport has been quite heartwarming. And now, of course, we hold a title we thought never possible in baseball- the title of world champions. Let it sit. Soak it in. There's nothing quite like the first time, and that feeling is utterly fantastic. The Banijans are world champions, and that cannot be taken away. And as professional baseball is set to begin in Banija, with the Western Banijan Baseball League recruiting large amounts of Hapilopper and Ko-oren athletes to join the WBBL, and four members of this WBC title team to begin their professional careers in Ko-oren, the sky is the limit.

Of course, now that we've won a title, the hunters will become the hunted. We'll have a massive target on our backs. How will we do? Now isn't a time to think about WBC 48. Savor the championship that we have now, and enjoy this moment. This is for all the Banijan sporting fans of all stripes. All those WLC losses to Abanhfleft. Three World Bowl semifinal losses in a row. Disappointing World Bowls on home soil. Those who watched the Kadongo Kamu get all the way to our first ever major final in AOCAF LVIII, just to see the Stadium of the Restoration not only the site of our greatest rival's first ever major international title, but also the birthplace of the modern Equestrian dynasty. There's been quite a few close calls watching Banijan sports teams. And to see one finally prevail, in this fashion, via a sweep, leaves no doubt that they deserve the title of champions. As sports fans, we trade many moments of pain for the chance of a few moments of glory, and we have achieved this glory. Enjoy it.