NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC Thread, rosters can be posted at any time, but preferably before April 15th. Scores will be posted startng then.

RP'ing is encouraged and will help your team.

The 16 teams have been drawn randomly into 4 Pools of 4 teams each. Each team will play the other 3 teams in it's pool twice once at home and once away. The top 2 teams from each pool will advance to the Knockout rounds.

The knockout rounds will be Best 2 of 3 with games 2 and 3 at the better record. The final will be a best of 5 with Games 1, 2 and if needed 5 at the better record.

Ties for playoff spots will be broken by the following:
1- Head-to-Head record
2- Away Record
3- Most runs scored per 9 innings
4- Better E.R.A
5- Coin-flip

Without further ado the POOL DRAW:
POOL A


Assegai Developments
Okielahoma
Qazox
St Samuel


POOL B

Az-cz
Cookesland
Political Cartoons
West Pasco

POOL C

Elves Security Forces
Kampfers
Lovisa
Zwangzug

POOL D
Braveria
Iansisle
Kiryu-shi
Milchama

Schedules for the WBC: (please note the numbers are the teams in alphabetical order, not a true seeding)


Day 1:
1 @ 4
2 @ 3
Day 2:
1 @ 3
2 @ 4
Day 3
1 @ 2
3 @ 4
Day 4:
4 @ 1
3 @ 2
Day 5:
3 @ 1
4 @ 2
Day 6:
2 @ 1
4 @ 3
Day 7:OFF DAY
Day 8: Quarterfinals Game 1
A1 @ D2
B1 @ C2
C1 @ B2
D1 @ A2
Day 9: Quarterfinals Game 2
D2 @ A1
C2 @ B1
B2 @ C1
A2 @ D1
Day 10: Quarterfinals Game 3/OFF DAY for any finished series
D2 @ A1 (if needed)
C2 @ B1 (if needed)
B2 @ C1 (if needed)
A2 @ D1 (if needed)
Day 11: OFF DAY
Day 12: Semifinals Game 1
A1/D2 Winner vs C1/B2 Winner (@ lesser record)
D1/A2 Winner vs B1/C2 Winner (@ lesser record)
Day 13: Semifinals Game 2
C1/B2 Winner vs A1/D2 Winner (@ better record)
B1/C2 Winner vs D1/A2 Winner (@ better record)
Day 14: Semifinals Game 3/OFF DAY for any finished series
C1/B2 Winner vs A1/D2 Winner (if Needed)(@ better record)
B1/C2 Winner vs D1/A2 Winner (if Needed)(@ better record)
Day 15: OFF DAY
Day 16 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 1
Lesser Record @ Better Record
Day 17 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 2
Lesser Record @ Better Record
Day 18 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 3
Better Record @ Lesser Record
Day 19 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 4 (if needed)
Better Record @ Lesser Record
Day 20 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Game 5 (if needed)
Lesser Record @ Better Record


The championship round may be amended if there are sweeps in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

The Scores will be posted like this:

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
TEAM A 0 0 0 4 1 2 1 0 0 8 17 1
TEAM B 1 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 x 9 13 2 An x in the bottom of the 9th means the home team won with having to bat (for those who may not have known). I will post the runs scored in each inning, but as to how they scored is up to you. Please no GODMODING the scores (ie if i have team A scoring 10 runs in the first, don't spread them out and vice-versa.)

As for rosters, a mininum of 6 pitchers and 8 fielders is needed (must have at least 14 players) and a maximum of 25 players.

RATINGS: you have 45 points to "spend" on the team's ratings. Each catergory is from 1-10 points.

(EXAMPLE: TEAM A
STARTERS: 5
RELIEF: 8
HITTING: 7
POWER: 10
SPEED: 5
DEFENSE: 10)
Under this example, Team A's starters will usually last 5 or 6 innings. The relief is good, but could allowa few runs. The team will get good hits, many homers, a couple of steals and have few errors.)

(EXAMPLE: TEAM B
STARTERS: 10
RELIEF: 10
HITTING: 10
POWER: 10
SPEED: 3
DEFENSE: 2)
Under this example, team B's starters will work into the 8th or 9th inning, the relief won't give up many runs, and they will score a ton of runs and have many hits, but will have many errors and is slow on the basepaths.)


Also for your park/stadium a rating of -1, 0 or +1 is needed. This will help determine the scores more accurately.
-1- PITCHER'S Park, (fewer runs scored)
0- Neutral (average runs scored)
+1- HITTER's Park (more runs scored)

One final thing for RP purposes:

If you RP before me you may:
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: Y/N
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y/N
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y/N
EJECTIONS: Y/N

If there are any additional questions, please ask. thanks and good luck to all.

TEAM QAZOX Home field: Oxen Stadium, Fromburg (-1) There is no DH rule in Qazox.

overhead picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Isotopes_Park-New_Mexico.jpg/635px-Isotopes_Park-New_Mexico.jpg

STARTERS: 7
RELIEF: 7
HITTING: 8
POWER: 5
SPEED: 8
DEFENSE: 10)

Starting Lineup: No DH (Bats/Throws)
2B- Juan Reed (R/R)
CF- Gabe Reyes (S/R)
3B- David Ramierez (L/L)
RF- Juan Ortiz (R/R)
C- Henry Bonds (L/L)
LF- Jack Sun (L/R)
1B- Qadi Olea (S/L)
SS- Paul Assen (R/R)
Pitcher

Starting Lineup: With DH (Bats/Throws)
2B- Juan Reed (R/R)
CF- Gabe Reyes (S/R)
DH- John Green (R/R)
3B- David Ramierez (L/L)
RF- Juan Ortiz (R/R)
C- Henry Bonds (L/L)
LF- Jack Sun (L/R)
1B- Qadi Olea (S/L)
SS- Paul Assen (R/R)

Starting Rotation: (Throws/Bats)
Ryan Olds (L/L)
Eric Johnsen (L/L)
Kyle Pollack (R/R)
Frank Tinker (R/R)

Relief Pitchers:(Throws/Bats)
Jason Dawes (R/R)
Eric Dawes (R/R)
Pablo Rincon (L/R)
Ivan Trok (R/R)

Closer:
Mark Winchester (R/L)

Bench: (Bats/Throws)
OF/DH: John Green (R/R)
OF: Thomas Franks (L/L)
C: Manuel Ortega (R/R)
SS/2B: Orlando Jackson (L/L)
1B: Kyle Werth (L/L)
INF: Jack Spade (R/R)

If you RP before me you may:
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: Y
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: N

Az-cz is a -1 pitchers park.

STARTERS: 10
RELIEF: 4
HITTING: 10
POWER: 1
SPEED: 10
DEFENSE: 10


Pitchers:

Starters:

Jason Schmidt R
Juan Marichal R
Mk-Krk R
Kt-Rtr L

Relievers:

Ju-Ko R
Mat-Zk R
Fe-Ya L
Phil Ford L

Batters:

RF Ich-Ro R
2B Ray Durham S
LF Br-Bnd L
CF Wl-My R
1B Will Clark R
3B Mt-Wl S
C Bn-Sntg R
SS Hoz-Yrb S

Bench:

1B Jay-Tee S (in case of DH he will start at 1B bat 9th and Will Clark will play DH)
OF Lf-Tn
3B Al-Ou
OF Mk-Cvy
C Andrew Bartels
IF Dn-Stn

If you RP first:
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: N (If you RP first assume the pitcher is the next in the rotation)
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: Y (as long as it wouldn't lead to a supsension of the player)

59743

2B- Roberto Costadini
CF- Lucifer Mintoni
3B- Alberto Puppadali
RF- Loui Montagni
C- Guiseppe Kelaccio
LF- Mario Di Billio
1B- Diego Hazzaze
SS- Paoulo De Nino

Starting Rotation:
Louigi Corsitini (L)
Emre Coudacio (R)
Maximus Di Santos (L)
Frankie Di Leroni (R)

Relief Pitchers:
Julio Della Montaba (R)
Isami Egordino (R)
Ugo Pepperati (L)
Dacius Ben-Carlini (L)

Closer:
Marcus Vertini (R)

Bench:
OF/DH: Bepe Neutrino
OF: Cezar Frappa-Dimitillo
C: Daniele Julius
SS/2B: Leonardo Gascorli
1B: Augustus De Zisse
INF: Lintus Dandini

RATINGS
STARTERS: 7
RELIEF: 6
HITTING: 7
POWER: 10
SPEED: 5
DEFENSE: 10

Stadium: The Gladiatorium (+1) capacity 50,000

If you RP before me you may:
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: Y
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: Y

DEFENSE: 11) Must be between 1-10 sry man

Lineup v LHP
SS: Alexander Parikans (S)
CF: Fredai Weelers (R)
3B: Kria Mandawell (R)
RF: Julian Mazak (R)
LF: Zedax Hollan (L)
1B: Nikali Waque (L)
2B: Javier Manuz (S)
C: Olan Bradles (R)
P

Lineup v RHP
CF: Fredai Weelers (R)
3B: Kria Mandawell (R)
RF: Julian Mazak(R)
1B: Nikali Waque (L)
2B: Javier Manuz (S)
LF: Zedax Hollan (L)
SS: Alexander Parikans (R)
C: Olan Bradles (R)
P
*DH bats fourth on both lineups if used

Bench
3B: Roger Cartes (R)
SS: Jonthas Wrighas (S)
1B: Justinian Lisans (L)
C: Sutton Saet (L)
2B: Korhas Coltai (S)
OF: Fransis Poardu (R)
OF: Xavzx Iguan (S)
DH: Briese Cax (R)

Staff
SP: Daviar Feas (R)
SP: Samui Inaol (L)
SP: Versaz Kiles (R)
MRP: Rick Exantai (R)
MRP: Travak Mars (R)
MRP: Rafiel Kopan (L)
LRP: Brehe Juas (R)
LRP: Martaien Floze (R)
CP: Xanier Don (L)

Stadium (0 Nuetral Park): The Battleground (59,000)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/chellote/ESF%20Stadiums/RaynorCity.jpg

RATINGS
STARTERS: 7
RELIEF: 7
HITTING: 8
POWER: 7
SPEED: 8
DEFENSE: 8

If you RP before me you may:
Choose My Starting Pitcher: N
Choose My Relief Pitcher(s): N
Choose How I Scored: N
Ejections: N

Must be between 1-10 sry man

sorry, yep my bad, sorted!

Starting Lineup against RHP without DH
LF-Johnny Lush (L/L)
CF-Baldomero (Fernandez) Acosta (S/R)
3B-Levi Meyerle (R/R)
1B-Chappy Lane (L/L)
C-Frank (Noodles) Zupo (S/R)
RF-Daniel Francis Murphy (L/L)
2B-Richard Roy Cole (R/R)
SS-Darrell Brickell (R/R)
P

Starting Lineup against LHP without DH
2B-Richard Roy Cole (R/R)
CF-Baldomero (Fernandez) Acosta (S/R)
3B-Levi Meyerle (R/R)
1B-Chappy Lane (L/L)
RF-Carl (Jug) Powis (R/R)
C-Frank (Noodles) Zupo (S/R)
LF-Johnny Lush (L/L)
SS-Darrell Brickell (R/R)
P

Starting Lineup against RHP with DH:
LF-Johnny Lush (L/L)
RF-Katori Ito (S/R)
3B-Levi Meyerle (R/R)
DH-Chappy Lane (L/L)
C-Frank (Noodles) Zupo (S/R)
1B-Daniel Francis Murphy (L/L)
2B-Richard Roy Cole (R/R)
SS-Darrell Brickell (R/R)
CF-Baldomero (Fernandez) Acosta (S/R)

Starting Lineup against LHP with DH:
2B-Richard Roy Cole (R/R)
CF-Baldomero (Fernandez) Acosta (S/R)
3B-Levi Meyerle (R/R)
DH-Chappy Lane (L/L)
RF-Carl (Jug) Powis (R/R)
1B-Daniel Francis Murphy (L/L)
C-Frank (Noodles) Zupo (S/R)
SS-Darrell Brickell (R/R)
LF-Johnny Lush (L/L)

Pitching Rotation
SP-Clem Hausmann (L/L)
SP-Diomedes Olivo (R/R)
SP-Howie Reed (L/R)
SP-Vince Gonzales (L/L)
LRP-Dutch Leonard (R/R)
MRP-Jack Manning (L/L)
MRP-Andrew Murphy (R/R)
SU-Bobby Locke (R/R)
CL-Jake Striker (L/L)

Bench
C-Ashraf Ali (R/R)
1B-Michael Lewis (L/L)
IF-Jesus Baez (R/R)
3B/LF-Sam Ryan (R/R)
OF-Katori Ito (S/R)
OF-Carl (Jug) Powis (R/R)

RATINGS
STARTERS: 10
RELIEF: 6
HITTING: 10
POWER: 4
SPEED: 6
DEFENSE: 9

CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: Y
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: Y

Park: -1

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/future/mets700.jpg

Edit: no DH for me at home.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Cookesland/littleflag.png The Cookesland Nationals http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Cookesland/littleflag.png



Sarien Memorial Field: Hitter's Park +1
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/future/dcbpkmain.jpg

Roster:
Starters in Bold, the rest are relief

Pitchers:
Peter Seawell
John Prete
Rob Hendrixson

1B:
Nelson Crosslin
Fernando Sue
Julio Schneck

2B:
Erik Theroux
Fernando Paulo
Allan Orduno

3B:
Ryan Case
Phil Durham
Tom Easton

RF:
Chris Deville
Michael Tau
Dennis Moorman

LF:
Sean Crittenden
Greg Coney
Patrick Jiles

CF:
Kyle Trammis
Richie Delrio
Geoff Lawyer

SS:
Justin Boykin
David Bowling
Jimmy Yuen

C:
Cody Slate
Bryan Kavanagh
Matthew Lui

If you RP before me you may: Y
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: Y
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: N

Starters: 7
Relief: 9
Hitting: 8
Power: 6
Speed: 7
Defense: 8

Neutral park, no DH.

Starting lineup:

Dwight Eastman
Nathan Ellis
Richie Stagg
Terry Quave
Thomas Grush
Karen Lee
Ben Ridge
I Don't Care
Pitcher

(When there is a DH, Rob Staun will fill that role, batting fifth. All others will be scooted down one rank.)

Choose my starters: No. Rotation is Runnon/Macdougal/Soyne/Bartnett.
Choose my relievers/methods of scoring/ejection: Sure.

Roster: asterisks after uniform number indicate left-handedness.
Tomorrow, catcher, 2
I Don't Care, shortstop, 6
Because, center field, 8
Alexis Paige, infield, 9*
Lou Stirk, infield, 10
Karen Lee, left field, 11*
Rob Staun, outfield, 12
Ben Ridge, third base, 13
Terry Quave, center field, 16*
Nathan Ellis, right field, 18
Scott Macdougal, starting pitcher, 19*
Thomas Grush, catcher, 20
Stan Donatelli, reliever, 24*
Caleb Runnon, starting pitcher, 27
Julian Williams, outfield, 28*
Jamie Cooper, closer, 30
John Meyers, long reliever, 32*
Dwight Eastman, second base, 37
Will Bartnett, starting pitcher, 44
Trevor Root, reliever, 45
Matthew Leon, reliever, 47
Richie Stagg, first base, 55
Jeff Keer, reliever, 63*
Nicholas Soyne, starting pitcher, 81
Jack Percival, reliever, 98*

Milchama National News- Tribune- Sun- Times- Post- Gazette- Chronicle- Journal- Dispatch- Telegram- Star- Monitor- Enquirer

Sports Section

Baseball's back!

STARTERS: 8
RELIEF: 8
HITTING: 8
POWER: 5
SPEED: 8
DEFENSE: 8

All stats from the old An Archy scorinator don't worry about them.

Outfielders
1 Matan Williams LF
3 Barrett Hamilton RF
4 Kenny Marrick CF
5 Kevin Jollins
7 Daggert Bob
8 Marcus Loshe DH

Infielders
11 Meir Slavsky
12 Michael Flinter 2B
15 Ronny Bjork SS
16 Kent Monarch 3B
2 Tal Gool 1B

Catchers:
14 Yonatan Horowitz C
18 Del Carmic

Pitching 58 348
Starters
15 Philip Foster Right
16 Manny Rodriguez 59 Left
17 Stan Romanson 59 Right
19 James Rickey Left

Relievers
21 Pat Vernon Right
22 Dvir Lalton Left
23 Chad Fernayo Left
24 Scott Mayer Right
25 Matt Commnick Switch

Order w/DH:
1 Kenny Merrick Left
2 Micheal Flinter Right
3 Tal Gool Left
4 Barrett Hamilton Right
5 Marcus Loshe Right
6 Kent Monarch Right
7 Matan Williams Switch
8 Ronny Bjork Right
9 Del Carmic Left

Order w/o DH
1 Kenny Merrick Left- Typical leadoff man. Takes the Wee Willie Keeler approach to hitting "hit it where they ain't"
2 Micheal Flinter Right- Good OBP, not much power.
3 Tal Gool Left- He is the Milchamian Adam Dunn.
4 Barrett Hamilton Right- Another strike out risk but better overall hitter.
5 Marcus Loshe Right- Great all around hitter.
6 Kent Monarch Right- .280 hitter with 20 homer power. Not great at anything but good at everything.
7 Ronny Bjork Right- Sporadic hot streaks with a lot of nothing in between. Capable of both a 57 game hit streak and a 57 game hitless streak.
8 Del Carmic Left- Typical hitting catcher. He sucks.

Neutral Park, no DH used.

You can do anything while RPing, although it would be appreciated if you went in the order of the rotation for the starters, also seniority in the bullpen is top down with Vernon being the closer.

((ooc: Just the stats for now. I'll add in a roster later.))

Competing in International Baseball for the first time since before the Revolution, the Iansisle Longshoremen

Starters: 10
Relief: 8
Hitting: 7
Power: 3
Speed: 9
Defense: 8 (=45)

Baseball in Iansisle followed a much different development course than baseball in the United States. While the occasional game-changing home run is applauded, children are drilled from the earliest age on the fundamentals which win Iansislean baseball games: pitch location, contact, base-running, and defense. While this leads to exciting, close contests, there is something of a power outage on the Shield. While in domestic leagues, pitchers can get away with fastballs topping out in the low to mid-80s (there are only three pitchers on the Longshoremen's roster who have topped 90) to hitters looking to hit it into the opposite field, it remains to see how Iansisle's quaint system will fair in international competition.

Manager: Frank Campbell is a hulking (now advanced in years, both in terms of height and girth) former catcher who, ironically, was noted for his sloth-like running and consistant power during his playing years. His greatest strength and weakness is the will to allow his players to fix their own mistakes; he will almost never remove a pitcher in the middle of an inning and only infrequently takes even a shelled starter out before the fifth. A strict traditionalist, Campbell puts great stock in the 'unwritten rules' of baseball and the game's history. He is noted for being aggressive with his runners, often ordering a hit-and-run with even a mediocre runner. Look for the top of his order to attempt to steal early and often. In public, Campbell disdains unethical behavior, such as sign-stealing and 'creative' groundkeeping, yet he encourages his players and staff to lift a sign or to tamper with the outfield grass length according to the visiting team.

Stadium: The Longshoremen at historic Alexander Field in the Ianapalis suburb of Eastergate, a relatively poor and dangerous neighborhood. The stadium itself is intimate, seating only 13,000, but the field is spacious. It is 340' (338' for right, due to a contractor's error) down the foul lines, 377' to left and right center, and 410' to center. The foul areas are generous down the lines, but very cramped behind the plate, where the seats come closer than average to the field of play. Alexander Field is most definately a pitcher's park, though the generous outfield dimensions can favor the Longshoremen's slap hitters.

Rating: -1

No designated hitter is used in Iansislean play, though one will be provided when needed.

And, as with all my sports RPs, anything is acceptable to do, provided it is tongue-in-cheek. I'd prefer if actions are taken within the rough guidelines I've established above about player and managerial styles, but I'm not too picky. And, if what you write makes me laugh, I'm all for it!

Roster

SP -- Albert Canning (R/R)
SP -- Tom Wilwort (R/R)
SP -- Pete Gollit (R/L)
SP -- Hammond Ipston (R/R)
SP -- "Mouthy" Parkson (L/L)

SS -- Teddy Ontor (R/R)
The youngest player on the Longshoremen, and speed pure and simple. His blazing times up the first base line can turn a groundball into an infield single, but he is also the most free-swinging player on the Longshoremen, which can get him in strikeout trouble and reduces his walk totals. Tremendous range and a cannon throwing arm help contribute to the Longshoremen's excellent defensive infield.
LF/DH -- Bart Diggs (L/L)
A patient veteran, Diggs combines a keen eye and discipline at the plate with excellent contact hitting. Sharp line drives through the infield provide most of his hits, and can have extra-base power when they find a gap or go down the line. Diggs is only mediocre both on the basepaths and in the field, and will be the designated hitter in games which require one. His place in left will be filled by utility man Joe Gallaga, who will bat in the pitcher's spot.
1B -- Peter Alms (L/L)
A slap hitter with occasional bursts of power to all fields, Alms anchors the Longshoremen's lineup with consistency. His ability to foul off pitches until he gets one to hit can frustrate pitchers. Has occasional turns of speed on the basepaths and excells at picking bad throws out of the dirt.
C -- Iggy Franks (R/R)
The only pure power hitter on the Longshoremen's roster, Franks is looked to for occasional homeruns and booming doubles into the gaps. Although his speed -- "Looks like he forgot to pull up the anchor!" -- can be a large liability on the paths, he has a strong, accurate arm and the trust of the Longshoremen's pitching staff.
RF -- Eddy "Pops" Acorn (L/L)
"Pops" Acorn, despite his name, is one of the younger Longshoremen. A bold, impulsive player with a good turn of speed, "Pops" has become famous on the Shield for crashing into the wall, the catcher, and just about any other thing between him and scoring a run or making a play. Although not the most disciplined player at the plate, "Pops" will take a walk when offered to him and shows occasional bursts of power to right.
3B -- Sam Jovens (L/R)
Jovens, the lanky third baseman, is a key component in the Longshoremen's strong defensive outfield. Balls tend to find his glove, no matter how sharply they're hit down the line or towards the 5.5 gap. At the plate, he is a patient slap hitter with mediocre speed.
2B-- Thom Cully (R/R)
The dimunitive second baseman with the tremendous range in the field, Cully tends to be a liability at the plate. He lacks both discipline and power, although he can put on a good burst of speed when called for.
CF -- George Danville (R/R)
Danville himself makes up for Acorn's impulsiveness and Digg's poor range in the outfield. A speedy centerfielder with good baseball instincts, he's always there to play backup when one of "Pops" flashy plays fails or Diggs can't cut off a drive to the gap. He is an extremely poor hitter, though work with Diggs has done much to refine his swing. Still young and improving at the plate, most expect Danville will soon become an all-star player in his own right.
P/LF -- Joe Gallaga
Although Gallaga only starts when a designated hitter is needed, he is frequently called upon to pinch hit or run. A slap hitter with a decent turn of speed, Gallaga is an improvement over Diggs' poor range and arm in left, although his tendency towards sharp ground balls can get him in double play trouble.

(RP / bench to come)

The Armed Republic of Assegai Developments National Baseball Team

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/DUBKansas/assegai_developments.jpg

National Stadium: Valendia Park
Capacity: 58,000
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/DUBKansas/AssegaiNationalStadium.jpg

National Media:
Newspaper – The Crimson Blade
TV – Assegai Sports Network
Radio – Assegai Sports Network

TEAM

Manager: Jimmy Roastbucket
Coaches: Joe Sanders, James Joyce, T.S. Elliot

Roster
(Pos. – No. – Name, (Bats/Throws)

Starters
First Base – No. 97 – Alan Spicer, (R/R)
Second Base – No. 31 – Benedict Dye (L/L)
Shortstop – No. 3 – Joan Sparrow (R/R)
Third Base – No. 22 – Maynard Cole (R/R)
Catcher – No. 0 – Johnny Savage (B/B)
Right Field – No. 21 – Sarah de Thorp (R/R)
Center Field – No. 69 – Letitia Metcalfe (L/L)
Left Field – No. 72 – Arthur Mallowburne (L/L)

Reserves

Infielders:
No. 66 – Adam Fowler (L/L)
No. 8 – Alan Smyth (B/B)
No. 17 – Arnald Clere (R/R)
No. 88 – Audrey Lucy (R/R)
Outfielders:
No. 1 – Joan Fogg (R/R)
No. 60 – Matthew Crane (L/L)
No. 9 – Philip Saint-John (R/R)

Pitchers

Starting Rotation
No. 55 – Ivo Mayne (L/L)
No. 32 – Gauwyn Skipwyth (R/R)
No. 4 – Joan Coffyn (R/R)
No. 81 – John Selwyn (L/L)

Bullpen
Long Relief
No. 22 – Isabel Gage (R/R)
No. 35 – Matthew Cotton (L/L)
No. 99 – Winnefred Waleys (L/L)

Short Relief
No. 10 – Katherine Holt (R/R)
No. 5 – Lawrence Kyngeston (L/L)
No. 43 – Lewis de Monteacute (R/R)

Closer
No. 38 – James Logan Howlett (R/R)

RATINGS:

Starters: 8
Relief: 8
Hitting: 7
Power: 7
Speed: 7
Defense: 8

Valendia Park is a (-1) PITCHER’S PARK

If you RP before me you may:
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: N
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: Y

TEAM Kampfers Home field: Kampferian Stadium, Kampfers Stadt(0)

STARTERS: 10
RELIEF: 9
HITTING: 10
POWER: 10
SPEED: 1
DEFENSE: 5)

Starting Lineup: No DH (Bats/Throws)
2B- Daniel Miller(S/R)
CF- Johnny Crawford (S/R)
3B- Hank Blalock (L/L)
RF- Kontrovers (R/R)
C- Das Ist (R/R)
LF- Jack Bauer (R/L)
1B- Mein Zimmer (S/L)
SS- Wo Ist (R/R)
Pitcher

Starting Lineup: With DH (Bats/Throws)
2B- Daniel Miller(S/R)
CF- Johnny Crawford (S/R)
3B- Hank Blalock (L/L)
DH- Billy Bob (R/R)
RF- Kontrovers (R/R)
C- Das Ist (R/R)
LF- Jack Bauer (R/L)
1B- Mein Zimmer (S/L)
SS- Wo Ist (R/R)

Starting Rotation: (Throws/Bats)
Billy Joe (L/L)
Eric Bob (L/L)
Silly Goose (R/R)
Goose Goslin (R/R)

Relief PitchersThrows/Bats)
Rollie Fingers (R/R)
Dan Dan (R/R)
Crack Job (L/R)
Sofa King (R/R)

Closer:
We Tah Dead (L/L)

Bench: (Bats/Throws)
OF/DH: Munel Rodrigues (R/R)
OF: Weiner Frank (L/L)
C: Eric Feric (R/R)
SS/2B: Orlando Bloom (L/L)
1B: Aint Werth Nuttin (L/L)
INF: Clubs Spade (R/R)

If you RP before me you may:
CHOOSE MY STARTING PITCHER: Y
CHOOSE MY RELIEF PITCHER(S): Y
CHOOSE HOW I SCORED: Y
EJECTIONS: N

ooc: We all must be purists, those that have posted a roster so far, NO DH'S through 10 rosters (i'm assuming if you didn't post DH at home, that you're not using one.) also we got many pitchers parks... lol expect alot of 4-3 games... I should have the first scores and standings up sunday night, but if the forums are acting up, expect them Monday Morning (all times EDT).

Good luck to all.

DH? What's that? :p

ooc:this is gonna be great, i've been waiting for a Baseball tournament on NS for ages :)

"Greetings, Zwangzug. The eastern area at least. This broadcast is streaming from the top of the Ziggurat, and while radio waves have incredible power to travel for hundreds of miles, eventually these words will be lost in the tide of static.

Could I have put my antenna among the mountains, let my voice, a voice I still don't know: ever since elementary school and the years upon years of articulation therapy so "church" didn't sound like "sauce", I've feared to hear it, carry from such a height? I am no athlete, I could not be on even this team. Would someone have summited Pittan or some other peak just to put wires among it, just to taint the snowy beauty with our human prattle? I would ask no such thing, ever.

Instead, I ask you to listen, and perhaps learn of other nations, ones unlike our own. Here, the government quenches the desire for capitalism, stops economic competition while at the same time glorifying sports. Rather than judging for myself, I ask you, is this right?

The first team Zwangzug will play is known as "Elves Security Forces". And so I ask: Do you believe in magic?

I am the Vox!"

Elven Times
Baseball? World Classic?~!

For the first time in ESF history, a professional roster of baseball players has been assembled and will be competiting in a large scale international tournament. While there is no professional league for baseball in the ESF, it is highly popular in the collegiate level, with many of the universities in the country having superb facilities. With such a high popularity amongst its' students, the ESC decided to enter the World Baseball Classic as a show that it cared and responded to suggestions that it had been recieving from the populace for some sort of representation of their talent be it in either a league or an international tournament. So when this tournament poppped up, they felt they had little choice but to enter the nation into it, as well as pressure from regional rivals in Assegai.

The first step was to have tryouts. Right off the get go, Kria Mandawell really impressed the ESC scouts. His power and dicipline with the bat and defence range impressed the scouts soo much, that they penciled him into the line up right then and there. Switch hitters Alexander Parikans and Javier Manuz were up next on the scouts top players for their ability to switch hit and ability to play second or short stop. Afterwards, the scouts hand really just go on their gut feelings, as all of the other position battles really broke down evenly amongst the competitors. The management of the ESC really hopes this team can build chemsitry early, as it will be needed to overcome their lack of expierence in high pressure situations. After reaching an agreement with Raynor City, the ESC was able to nab the mutli-use stadium of The Battleground, home to several Raynor City football sides and the Raynor City Rangers of the EHL.

Article by Lexias Rodgos

RP CUTOFF FOR MD ONE Scores shortly.

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

MD ONE SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

POOL A
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Assegai 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 1
St. Sam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Okiela 0 2 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 8 14 1
Qazox 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 11 0

POOL B
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Az-cz 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 7 12 0
WPasco 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cookes 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 0
PolCart 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 x 7 14 0

POOL C
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
E.S.F. 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 9 1
Zwang 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kamp. 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 10 1
Lov. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 2

POOL D
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Brvria 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 12 1
Mlchma 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 x 6 11 1

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
IansIs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Kiryu- 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 1 9 0

standings will be posted after day 2.

"Hello once again, Zwangzug. It's only me, with pencil and scorecard-and, fate has decided humorously, microphone. Listen if you care to, switch to some more explicit anti-government rhetoric if you care to-listen to the actual government rhetoric, how could I know?

But this place is secure, as insulated from the chaotic world as one can be without an artificial roof. Here I am alone with the game.

The government lies over me, of course, as it lies over all of us, stopping us from the ebb and flow of the market, seizing the natural sine waves and compressing them into trigonometric atrocities, rejecting capitalism for artificial equality.

But I babble, and the game has begun. Runnon is steady, confident, retiring Weelers...Mandawell...Mazak. A fly out to Quave in center, who easily hauls it in, and that was the half-inning, Those who complain that the game is slow would not understand this. The mockeries of sport arbited by clocks are cruel, promising luster and the hope that anyone can come from behind and win, but the beauty of pure mathematics is not found in the modular clocks that have no purpose but to swing, not around, but simply down.

I critique socialism, but the banning of advertisements means I talk on, perhaps to myself, into this Sunday afternoon that could be racing by, but instead has hardly started...

...and Runnon's cracked, it seems, after surrendering those two runs. But he perseveres, as anyone should, and must. He'll remain on the on-deck circle as I Don't Care strikes out, but Ridge's sacrifice fly, scoring Lee, has made this a one-run ballgame...

...Meyers taking the mound for this, the top of the sixth, Runnon being pulled: but only after Ellis's loop tied the score. Runnon cannot get a win or loss now, not this game: the netherworld of no-decision is yet still strong. There will always be we who keep the statistics, no play going unobserved. Meyers tosses the rosin bag around-it's observed, yes, but not a play yet: ah, he fires a ball past Parikans. Grush lunges to grab it, it's 1 and 0...

...Eastman digs in, the pitch: foul tipped back. Zwangzug staying alive, struggling to keep in it after that last run in the seventh. And? The pitch, popped easily to second. Manuz settles under it; there will be no problem. Elves Security Forces with the victory, three to two. Zwangzug's first batter is also the last: Eastman pops to second to end it.

I am the Vox!"

Fromburg Free Press

As the only place in Qazox that has a baseball stadium, its up to me, the assistant sports reporter for the Fromburg Free Press to cover the World Baseball Classic. Great. I could be covering the Women's World Cup, which starts in a couple of days, or the World Cup of Hockey or even the World Cup itself, but noooo, I gotta cover Baseball, the 2nd most boring sport, after Women's basketball.

And we lost... 8 to 7. The team from Okielahoma kicked our starting pitcher, Ryan Olds, around like a football. He gave up 8 runs in 5 1/3 innings and only striked out 2 batters. He walked 5 and hit two others. Somehow in the bottom of the 8th, the team managed to finally hit the ball some scoring 7 times on three homeruns, but couldn't get the 8th one across on a lousy call at the plate, and the 4th Okie pitcher got a save, whatever that is.

Up next for the Calves, as i'm nicknaming them, is another game here vs. Assegai Developments who actullay won their game 2-0. I expect us to get crushed, and hopefully the team will just quit.

Greg Haddix

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Okiela 0 2 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 8 14 1
Qazox 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 11 0

BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 5 2 1 0 .400
CF- Gabe Reyes 5 1 1 1 .200
3B- David Ramierez 3 0 0 0 .000
RF- Juan Ortiz 5 3 1 2 .600
C- Henry Bonds 4 0 1 0 .000
LF- Jack Sun 4 2 1 1 .500
1B- Qadi Olea 4 0 0 0 .000
SS- Paul Assen 4 2 1 1 .500
P- Ryan Olds 2 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Dawes 0 0 0 0 .000
1- Thomas Franks 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Ivan Trok 0 0 0 0 .000
2- John Green 1 1 1 2 1.000
P- Pablo Rincon 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 38 11 7 7 .289
1- Pinch hit for Dawes in 7th
2- Pinch hit for Trok in 8th
2B- Reed
3B- Reyes
HR- Ortiz, Green, Sun
SB- Sun
CS- Sun
HBP- Ramierez
GIDP- Olea (2)

PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Olds (0-1) 5.1 5 2 11 8 8 13.50
E. Dawes 1.2 1 1 1 0 0 0.00
Trok 1.0 0 2 2 0 0 0.00
Rincon 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 0.00
Totals 9.0 7 6 14 8 8 8.00
HBP- Olds (2)
WP- Dawes

Qazox scoring:
Bottom of 8th-
Jack Sun homers to left. 8-1 Okie
Qadi Olea Strikes out.
Paul Assen singles to center.
John Green pitch hitting for Ivan Trok.
Green Homers to right, Assen scores. 8-3 Okie
Pitching Change for Okielahoma.
Juan Reed Singles to right.
Gabe Reyes Triples to left center, Reed scores. 8-4 Okie.
David Ramierez grounds out (5-3).
Juan Ortiz Homers to Right, Reyes Scores. 8-6 Okie.
Henry Bonds walks.
Jack Sun singles to left, Bonds to third.
Pitching Change for Okielahoma.
Qadi Olea walks.
Paul Assen singles to left center, Bonds scores, Sun thrown out at plate 9-6-2. 8-7 Okie.
Summary: 7 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks, 2 left on.

Elven Times
Winning Ways

It wasn't pretty, but it was a good way to start off the record books for the first official result in history for the ESF baseball national team. I've decided to don the nickname of Dragons for the squad, for the mere purposes of psycological edge if one can get such a thing from a nickname. An away game in Zwangzug was a nasty way to start off their professional careers, but the squad pulled through, thanks to some timely hitting and clutch pitching when it was needed. The defence needed some improvement as Waque made a bad error in the fourth that allowed a potential rally to get started. However, the lads performed admireable given the conditions, and will have to keep it up as thier next two games are on the road also before coming home for the last three before hopefully going into the playoffs.

Manuz got the offence going in the second after a 1-2-3 inning in the first and Waque grounding out to begin the inning with a double. Hollan then got a single on a play that was meant to be a sacrifice along the third base line, advancing Manuz to third in the process. Parikans worked Runnon into a 3-1 count before blasting one to deep right and pulling in with a two RBI double with just one out in the inning. Bradles would draw a walk before Daviar Feas grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Feas managed to pitch a great game, despite giving up seven hits. He managed to induce ground balls when he needed to and looked solid on the mound. The squad was able to get the victory for the lad as Mandawell homoered in the top of the seventh, and Feas got the first out in the bottom of the inning before Travak Mars came in on relief and struck out the next two batters. Floze did in the eighth inning after giving up a lead off double by striking out the rest of the side, and Don struck out the first two in the ninth before Eastman flew out to Manuz to end the game.

Dragons AB H R AVG
CF: F. Weelers 3 1 0 .333
3B: K. Mandawell 4 2 1 .500
RF: J. Mazak 4 1 0 .250
1B: N.Waque 4 1 0 .250
2B: J. Manuz 4 1 1 .250
LF: Z. Hollan 4 1 1 .250
SS: A. Parikans 3 1 0 .333
C: O. Bradles 3 0 0 .000
P: D.Feas 2 0 0 .000
* J. Lisans 1 1 0 1.000
** K. Coltai 1 0 0 .000

2B: Javier Manuz (1), Alexander Parikans (1)
3B: Julian Mazak (1)
HR: Kria Mandawell (1)
RBI: Alexander Parikans 2 (2), Kria Mandawell (1)
BB: Olan Bradles (1), Alexander Parikans (1), Fredai Weelers (1)

Pitcher IP H B K ER
Daviar Feas 6.1 7 2 5 2 W(1-0)
Travak Mars 0.2 0 0 2 0
M. Floze 1.0 0 0 3 0
Xanier Don 1.0 1 0 2 0 S(1)

*pinch hitting for Faes
**pinch hitting for Floze


Article by Lexias Rodgos

Heartbreaker Loss to Open
Longshoremen drop a one-run game to Kiryu-shi

KIRYU-SHI -- Although no one seems to know the name of their beautiful, modern stadium, Longshoremen fans far from home still enjoyed themselves. Right up until the sixth inning, that is.

Albert Canning had been pitching well, scattering four hits over the first five innings, when right fielder Daniel Francis Murphy took the bat with one out in the sixth. Canning, who had been commanding earlier, left a offspeeder hanging over the middle of the plate and Murphy ripped it past Peter Alms down the first base line. The ball rattled around in right a bit before "Pops" Acorn was able to come up with it and relay it back to the infield, leaving Murphy with a standing double.

The next hitter, Richard Roy Cole, had Canning's number from the start, delivering a single up the middle in the third. Canning pitched him aggressively, but Cole was able to turn on an inside fastball on a 1-2 pitcher's count and loop it over Teddy Ontor's head for a second single. Kiryu-shi's third base coach had evidently done his homework, for he decided to test Bart Diggs' arm and sent Murphy racing around third without a second thought. Diggs' weak throw was cut off by Ontor, who looked an aggressive Cole back to first.

Canning managed to induce a 4-6-3 double play from Darrell Brickell, but the damage had been done. Southpaw Clem Hausmann dominated the Longshoremen for seven innings of four hit, one walk ball, before turning the mound over to Bobby Locke for a perfect eighth and Jake Striker, who lived up to his name and retired the Longshoremen on nine strikes. Canning pitched all eight innings, allowing nine hits but walking none.

The Longshoremen's best chance to score came when Ontor hit a single leading off the first, swiped second two pitches later, and advanced to third on Diggs' weak grounder to the first baseman. However, Alms popped it up behind the plate and Franks struck out to end the threat.

Pitching line:

Longshoremen IP H R ER BB K
Cannning (L) 8 9 1 1 0 5
Kiryu-shi IP H R ER BB K
Hausmann (W) 7 4 0 0 1 6
Locke (H) 1 0 0 0 0 1
Striker (S) 1 0 0 0 0 3

(ooc: on tues and weds the scores will be posted around 1pm EDT.. srry but college stuff.)

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

MD TWO SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

POOL A
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Assegai 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 11 0
Qazox 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 x 4 11 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Okiela 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 0
St. Sam 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 x 3 5 0

POOL B
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Az-cz 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 18 0
PolCart 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 10 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cookes 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 11 0
WPasco 2 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 x 7 11 0


POOL C
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
E.S.F. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 0
Lov. 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x 3 7 1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kamp. 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 5 11 0
Zwang 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 6 0


POOL D
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
IansIs 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 6 9 1
Mlchma 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 4 8 0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Brvria 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 6 2
Kiryu- 0 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 x 7 14 0

STANDINGS

POOL A
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Asseagi 1-1 .500 --
Okiela 1-1 .500 --
Qazox 1-1 .500 --
St. Sam 1-1 .500 --

POOL B
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Az-cz 2-0 1.00 --
W. Pasco 1-1 .500 1
Pol Cart 1-1 .500 1
Cookes 0-2 .000 2

POOL C
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kampfers 2-0 1.00 --
Lovisa 1-1 .500 1
E.S.F. 1-1 .500 1
Zwangzug 0-2 .000 2

POOL D
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kiryu-shi 2-0 1.00 --
Iansisle 1-1 .500 1
Milchama 1-1 .500 1
Braveria 0-2 .000 2

Any Port in a Storm
Longshoremen win, but win ugly against Milchama

MILCHAMA -- The Longshoremen won the second game of their road trip. The offense, shut down completely in the first game, exploded for a nine-hit, six run attack, chasing Milchaman starter Manny Rodriguez early.

The hits began on the first pitch of the game, with shortstop Teddy Ontor lining a single back up at Rodriguez. Despite nearly being picked off by the left-handed Rodriguez's superb move to first, Ontor took off on the fourth pitch to Bart Diggs, which was lined to right for a single. Peter Alms took the bat with men on the corners and hit a deep fly to left, scoring Ontor easily. After Iggy Franks struck out swinging, "Pops" Acorn hit a line-drive that just snuck over the right field wall, capping a three-run first. Diggs added a RBI single in the fourth to make the score 4-0 Longshoremen.

Tom Wilwort was dominant through the first five innings, limiting the Milchaman offense to one hit and a walk. However, he was warned before the bottom of the sixth about going to his mouth. Spitballs are, of course, legal in the Iansislean leagues but quite disallowed in international play. (ooc: I assume >.>) To the delight of the Milchaman crowd, shortstop Ronny Bjork hit the first offering from Wilwort in the sixth into the second deck, cutting the Longshoremen's lead to three runs.

Wilwort apparently thought Bjork took too long showboating around the basepaths and retaliated by drilling catcher Del Carmic in the ribs with the first pitch of the at bat. Home plate umpire [name] promptly ejected Wilwort, leading to an altercation with Longshoremen manager Frank Campbell. A bit of hat-tossing and dirt-kicking later, Campbell was himself ejected, stomping down to the dressing room with the jeers of the crowd behind him. Relief pitcher Hal Reminford sat the next three Milchaman batsmen down with only seven pitches, ending the inning.

The Longshoremen made two runs back in the top of the seventh, including a splendid pinch hit RBI single by Joe Gallaga, who took Diggs' place in the second half of the inning as part of a double switch, but Milchama wasn't ready to roll over. A nightmarish inning for reliever Tony Pocher ended only after eight at bats, three runs, and a run-saving, belly-first diving catch by Acorn in the gap. Fortunately, Harry Fraser pitched two innings of perfect ball, ending the game a 6-4 win for the visiting Longshoremen.

There has been no word yet from Classic authorities on whether there will be consequences beyond the ejections for Campbell or Wilwort.

Longshoremen IP H R ER BB K
Wilwort (W) 5+ 2 1 1 2 3
Reminford (H) 1 0 0 0 0 0
Pocher (H) 1 3 3 3 2 1
Fraser (S) 2 0 0 0 0 2

Kiryu-shi Wins Second Strait Home Game

by Carlos Harris

Flushing, Kiryu-shi On the back of strong starting pitching for the second strait game, Kiryu-shi takes in early lead in their group. Today, the Dragons threw out Diomedes Olivo, who featured an excellent fastball, hitting the radar gun at highs of 99 mph against the team coming in from Braveria. He went seven innings racking up 9 strike-outs, along with two runs, five hits two walks and a hit batsmen. The second strait sellout crowd at City Field cheered him onto his first win, as the offense scored early and often, providing Olivo with plenty of run support.

____The run barrage started in the second inning, where catcher "Noodles" Zupo led off the inning with a single to right field. Following a pop up to second base by Daniel Murphy, Richard Roy Cole continued his torrid hitting as he slapped a breaking ball away down the right field line and burned around the bases for a triple, scoring the lead foot Murphy, who had been running on contact. The Braveria pitcher then decided to intentionally walk Darrell Brickell to bring up the pitchers spot, with a man down and runners at the corners. Olivo struck out looking on three pitchers, but Johnny Lush worked a full count, and with Brickell running on the pitch, Lush pulled a ball hard into right center field. Cole scored easily, and Brickell slid into to home before the through from the Braveria right fielder. Lush tried to stretch it to third base on the throw home, but was thrown out by 20 feet by an alert catcher, killing the rally. Kiryu-shi struck again the very next inning, as each of the first six batters hit singles, scoring four runs with two men left on before Braveria called on their bullpen to clean up the mess. However, in two innings, the Dragons had scored seven runs on nine hits by the third inning. Olivo remained dominant, and was replaced in the eigth inning by Dutch Leonard because of his pitch count.

Kiryu-shi looks forward to it's first road game against Milchama, with Howie Reed looking to keep up the Dragon's starting pitching dominance.


(OOC: What? Someone took the name Dragons? Well, now there are two Dragons in international baseball)

(OOC 2: Iansisle, you should have had five hits, no?(in the game against me))

"Hello, Zwangzug. I'm fighting a sore throat tonight, so forgive the hoarseness of my voice. I hope to return to my regular, as it were, zebra-ness soon. Like them, the home squad must work as a team in order to survive. Yet within every team is always rivalry, friendly competition at best...

...and Quave nicks it into right field, just over Zimmer's head. A cheap hit, but Zwangzug's first of the night. Bob's wild earlier innings, fortunately for him, coincided with Kampfers' offense: a homer from Blalock got them on the board in the third, then a big top of this sixth inning. Doubles, a triple and Kontrover's ignomious plunk by Meyers: all of a sudden, four-nothing.

But it switches back just like that: the chaotic equilibrium of the game is easily upset. And now, Grush drives it deep: Quave will skittishly come in. Four-one...

...a bunt from Root, and I Don't Care takes second. Eastman in now, steadily: takes one outside. Ball returned to Dan. Next pitch: feeble swing from Eastman, evens the count at 1 and 1. Eastman 0 for 2 tonight, but he walked in the second. 1 and 2 now, inside but still in the zone. And? Strike three. Back to the dugout goes Eastman, and up comes Ellis: stands easily in the box, not digging in but balancing above the infield dirt. Poked to left, here comes I Don't Care: he'll score, and it makes up for that last run by Miller. Zwangzug still trails by three...

...Lee fouls it to left. A new ball comes in, she'll swing awkwardly-and miss. Strikeout by Dead, and the game's in the books. But the Zwangzug fans have stuck around, as always, till the end. In some way, they're part of this team too, like it or not.

I am the Vox!"

((OOC 2: Iansisle, you should have had five hits, no?(in the game against me))

((ooc: Bah, you're right. Got fixated on four hits for some reason and didn't bother to check it >.>))

OOC: Bah! This started damnit.

Milchama National News- Tribune- Sun- Times- Post- Gazette- Chronicle- Journal- Dispatch- Telegram- Star- Monitor- Enquirer

Sports Section

First two games alright

The most beloved team in the land the Milchama Warriors started off the World Cup of baseball a couple days ago. Because of the slow reporting out of Qasox we missed reporting on their first couple games but we promise to get you the rest of the tournament on a game by game basis. Anyway after an opening game win over Braveria the Warriors took a beating from the Longshorman from Iansisle to put them at 1-1 two games into the tournament. Although there is a long way to go so nobody is panicing yet but soon...
Anyway here is the how they scored:

Top 1st inning: Philip Foster ready to start the new international competition. After two impressive performances in the An Archy versions of the tournament you would expect great things from Foster here. The first pitch to X is OH NO! drilled it's going, going going GONE! 1-0 Braves. X jumping on a hanging gyroball to put it in left field.

Bottom 1st Inning: Merrick to start things off. A veteran also of the two old international competitions and he takes strike 1 inside. The next pitch is, oh look he's bunting, it's to the third base side, if his speed is there he can get it, M comes charging, the throw...SAFE! Merrick beats out the bunt. Great start for the Warriors. That brings up Micheal Flinter. Third basemen playing in, fastball and Flinter smashes it, the third basemen ducks to keep his head from falling off. Runners on first and second now for Gool. Tal Gool a big strong kid from Northern Quintal. A curve, he swings that ball is going going off the wall, Merrick into score, Flinter around third he wil score! Gool at second 2-1 Milchama. Barrett Hamilton up, another veteran, the pitch WOW! that's a hit the question isn't will it be a homerun but how far? and the answer is 500 ft as the Warriors take a 4-1 lead out of the 1st inning.

Top 4th: X up again. 2-2 with a homer. A curve by Foster and that's a double. Nobody else has seemed to get to Phil the way X has. Now here comes Y he's 1-2 with a bunt single. He squares up, no pulls back! Monarch is way out of position and that's down the line Williams is rushing over but I don't think it'll be in time a double for Y and a 4-2 lead to Milchama.

Top 5th: M up. He's struggled so far, 0-2 with a strikeout. But he looks ready here Foster delivers and yep M is a single to center. That brings up Q. Q is 1-1 with a walk. Foster has not had his A stuff today but he is battling. Q is the nine hitter in the order and Foster up 0-2 on him. Q gets ready and swings to deep leftrightcenter field. Merrick is chasing but he won't get there he tries and now the ball has ricocheted weird off the wall Hamilton able to corralle the ball but M has scored and Q is heading to third with a triple. A rare bad play from Merrick and the Warriors are only up 1.

Bottom 5th: Monarch to lead off. Grounder right to the third basemen, and he's muffed it. That an error on him and a good start for the Warriors. That brings up Ronny Bjork. Bjork from the coast of Milchama gave up surfing for baseball and it has looked to be a good choice. He looks at strike one. Ronny needs a hit here, and he's put the bat on the ball it's up the middle it looks good but NO! what a play by the shortstop flips it to second for one to first DOUBLE PLAY! 2 out none on for Milchama. A great play by L the shortstop who ranged all the way to his left to keep the ball from going through. The catcher Carmic up first pitch swinging and keeps the inning alive with a Texas Leaguer over the second basemen. You wonder what manager Joe Pechen has in store now. Merrick up first pitch looking ball 1. Kenny Merrick normally likes to play slap ball and gets a lot of infield singles won't be able to do that here. He seems fine with it, the pitch, that's curveball no break though Merrick waits it's up the third baseline, snagged by Y he throws to second. NO! Carmic safe. A hit and run that worked to perfection. Runners on first and second two outs for Micheal Flinter. A, the pitchter, looking tired. He's not been particularly peppered by the Milchamian hitters but it's clearly been enough. A talk by the pitching coach and he gets ready. The pitch Flinter takes ball 3 3-0 on Micheal. I don't expect him to be swinging at this and he doesn't 3-1. A checks the runners and throws, high ball 4 bases loaded for Tal Gool. Gool not usually a contact hitter but he'll need a hit here. He led the MBL in homers and strike outs. He looks at the first 3 pitches 1-2. A winds up throws Gool swings and doesn't miss and it's a pop up, they were playing the Boudreau shift and he's hit the ball down the left field line, X is running but he won't catch it, Carmic in, Merrick in and their sending Flinter. Gool safely on second, the throw from X is on target as Flinter tries to go outside but he won't get there he's called out and so goes the inning but 6-3 Milchama.

Top 9th: Pat Vernon in to close out the game. X up again. He's torn through Milchamian pitching with a 4-4 performance. Vernon's going to need to get him out and that's a good curveball 0-1. It looks like a curveball and it is, same spot, X looks ready though and he swings the ball is going back back back back back gone. 6-4. X with his second homerun of the day to cap a magnificent performance for him.

Player of the Game:
X- 5 for 5 with 2 homeruns it doesn't get much better than that.

Underperformer of the game:
Phil Foster- Sure didn't pitch like an ace today. While his 6 innings were nice 3 runs and 10 hits were way to much from him, we expect better in the future.

Positive thing:
The bullpen- They allowed only 2 hits both to X. That's the type of performance Milchama needs to get deep in the tournament.

Fromburg Free Press

The Calves got lucky today. A 4-3 win over Assegai Developments(what kind of name is that?) and Qazox finds itself tied in a 4-way tie atop the Pool A standings. This got off to a loust start as the 1st pitch from Eric Johnsen was taken over the left field wall for a homerun and after one freaking pitch we're losing. Johnsen settled down after that only allowing a 2-run ground rule double in the 4th as he got the win. The Calves scored on timely hitting, but once again had a run taken off the board at a call at the plate in the 4th inning, as Gabe Reyes tripped rounding third and was called out, when even I could see that he was safe.

But no matter, the team actually won, and about 3500 showed up, would have been less, but Fromburg Field was sold out, as all 65,000 seats for the Qazox-Quakmybush/ Wentland-LancasterCounty Women's World Cup 11double-header, left some looking for anything to do on a Monday afternoon.

Next game is at St. Samuel. Our pitching sucks, and their's is good, so i'm guessing that we'll probably get no-hit.



Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Assegai 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 11 0
Qazox 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 x 4 11 0


BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 5 2 1 0 .400
CF- Gabe Reyes 5 2 1 0 .400
3B- David Ramierez 4 2 0 2 .500
RF- Juan Ortiz 4 2 1 1 .500
C- Henry Bonds 4 0 0 0 .000
LF- Jack Sun 4 1 1 0 .250
1B- Qadi Olea 4 1 0 0 .250
SS- Paul Assen 4 1 0 1 .250
P- Eric Johnsen 3 0 0 0 .000
P- Jason Dawes 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Mark Winchester 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 38 11 4 4 .289

2B- Ramierez, Olea
HR- Ortiz
SB- Reyes-2
CS- Assen
GIDP- Bonds
Sac- Olea

PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Johnsen(1-0) 7.0 1 6 8 4 4 5.14
J. Dawes 1.0 0 2 1 0 0 0.00
Winchester(Sv1) 1.0 0 0 2 0 0 0.00
Totals 9.0 1 8 11 4 4 4.00
WP- Johnsen (2)

Qazox scoring:
Bottom of 1st:
Reed Strikes Out.
Reyes singles to right.
Reyes Steals 2nd, no throw.
Ramierez singles to center, Reyes Scores (1-1).
Ortiz flies out to left.
Bonds grounds out (5-3).
1 run, 2 hits, 1LOB
Bottom of 2nd:
Sun singles to left.
Olea sacrifices (2-3), Sun moves to 2nd.
Assen singles to center, Sun scores (2-1 Qaz).
Assen Caught stealing (2-6).
Reed singles to left.
Reyes Strikes out.
1 run, 3 hits, 1LOB
Bottom 4th:
Olea lines out to 2nd.
Assen strikes out looking.
Reed Singles to center.
Reyes Singles to left, Reed to 3rd on throw.
Reyes Steals 2nd.
Ramierez doubles to left center, Reed Scores, Reyes out at plate (7-6-2).
1 run, 3 hits, 1LOB
Bottom of 5th:
Ortiz homers to right.
Bonds strikes out.
Sun flies out to center.
Olea grounds out (1-3).
1 run, 1 hit, 0LOB

After the game against the heathen Oxen of Qazox, Assegai Developments manager Jimmy Roastbucket had this to say:

"Dese damn, bastard Qazoxians kep' us down all night long, bangin' pots and pans near our hotel. No wonda' our players wuzn't so's sharp today. Slap mah fro! ah' tell ya' whut; we dun didn't gots some baseball rivalry against dese bastards, but now we do. 'S coo', bro. De next time we face dese headen bastards dey betta' brin' de shavin' cream cuz' our pitchers is goin' t'shave dem all."

However, Assegai now has other things to worry about, like the challenge of Okiela.

"Dis damn game be impo'tant if we 'espect advance. ah' 'spect mah' team gots'ta be prepared t'snatch on dose bastards."

Mikaela Eyre Reporting

Sry... Scores will be posted later tonight instead of around now. Got called into work at 6am so I'm working on the scores now. They will be up around 11:00 m tonite after i get back from college. Sorry all. Also due to this, there will be a one day break between Day 3 and Day 4. I apologize once again for inconveinence.

It's all good. :) Just don't go broke/fail out of college cause of us. :p

LoL tnx. Rp Cutoff for MD 3.... Scores will be up shortish.

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

MD THREE SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

POOL A
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Assegai 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 5 1
Okiela 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 10 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 1
St. Sam 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 x 8 10 0

POOL B
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Az-cz 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 12 2
Cookes 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
PolCart 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
WPasco 0 0 0 2 2 3 0 0 x 8 13 0


POOL C
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
E.S.F. 0 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 8 15 0
Kamp. 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 9 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Lov. 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 7 0
Zwang 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 11 0


POOL D
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Kiryu- 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 6 15 0
Mlchma 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 15 0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Brvria 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 4 12 1
IansIs 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 6 0

STANDINGS

POOL A
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
St. Sam 2-1 .667 --
Okiela 2-1 .667 --
Asseagi 1-2 .333 1
Qazox 1-2 .333 1


POOL B
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Az-cz 3-0 1.00 --
W. Pasco 2-1 .667 1
Pol Cart 1-2 .333 2
Cookes 0-3 .000 3

POOL C
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
E.S.F. 2-1 .667 --
Kampfers 2-1 .667 --
Lovisa 1-2 .500 1
Zwangzug 1-2 .000 1

POOL D
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kiryu-shi 3-0 1.00 --
Iansisle 1-2 .333 2
Milchama 1-2 .333 2
Braveria 1-2 .333 2

Qualifing senarios:
Az-cz with win over West Pasco will clinch Pool B.
Kiryu-shi with win over Iansisle will clinch playoff spot.

Qazox,

Thanks for the work you're doing on this. Hopefully I'll find time to RP soon.

You are most quite welcome...

Big ups, Qazox, you damn heathen. Too bad AD lost. I'll RP soon.

Fromburg Free Press

At least we weren't no-hit, right? A complete and utter meltdown after the 3rd inning saw the Calves lose a 2-0 lead and lose 8-2, dropping the record to 1-2 so far. A nice start as Juan Reed continues to slap the ball around like crazy, but once again the middle and end of the batting order failed to produce. Kyle Pollack gave up not one, but 2 grand slams, one in the 4th and another in the 7th, which chased him out. Jason Dawes, who has been our one bright spot at pitcher so far, gave up only one hit over the next two innings.

Up next is a trip to Okielahoma, who beat us on Day one. I think we'll lose again, and be just about eliminated.


Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 1
St. Sam 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 x 8 10 0

BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 4 2 2 0 .500
CF- Gabe Reyes 4 2 0 2 .500
3B- David Ramierez 4 0 0 0 .000
RF- Juan Ortiz 4 0 0 0 .000
C- Henry Bonds 3 0 0 0 .000
LF- Jack Sun 3 2 0 0 .667
1B- Qadi Olea 3 0 0 0 .000
SS- Paul Assen 3 1 0 0 .333
P- Kyle Pollack 2 0 0 0 .000
P- Jason Dawes 1 0 0 0 .000
Totals 31 7 2 2 .226

2B- Reyes-2
GIDP- Ortiz, Olea-2
Error- Sun



PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Pollack(0-1) 6.0 1 5 9 8 8 12.00
J. Dawes 2.0 0 2 1 0 0 0.00
Totals 9.0 1 8 10 8 8 9.00
Pollack pitched to 4 batters in 7th.

Qazox scoring:
Top of 1st:
Reed singles to center
Reyes doubles to left, Reed Scores.
Ramierez walked.
Oritz hit into double play (6-4-3), Reyes to 3rd.
Bonds strikes out.
1 run, 2 hits, 1LOB
Top of 3rd:
Pollack strikes out.
Reed Singles to right.
Reyes Doubles to right, Reed Scores.
Ramierez flies out to center.
Ortiz flies out to left.
1 run, 2 hits, 1LOB

Qazox' Stats so far.
BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 14 6 5 0 .429
CF- Gabe Reyes 14 5 2 3 .357
3B- David Ramierez 11 2 0 2 .181
RF- Juan Ortiz 13 5 2 3 .385
C- Henry Bonds 11 0 1 0 .000
LF- Jack Sun 11 5 2 2 .455
1B- Qadi Olea 11 1 0 0 .091
SS- Paul Assen 11 4 1 2 .364
P- Kyle Pollack 2 0 0 0 .000
P- Jason Dawes 2 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Johnsen 3 0 0 0 .000
P- Ryan Olds 2 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Dawes 0 0 0 0 .000
PH- Thomas Franks 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Ivan Trok 0 0 0 0 .000
PH- John Green 1 1 1 2 1.000
P- Pablo Rincon 0 0 0 0 .000
P- Mark Winchester 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 110 29 14 14 .264

2B- Reed, Reyes (2), Ramierez, Olea
3B- Reyes
HR- Ortiz (2), Green, Sun
SB- Sun, Reyes (2)
CS- Sun, Olea
GIDP- Olea (4), Bonds, Ortiz
HBP- Ramierez
Error- Sun

PITCHING: (by IP)
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Johnsen(1-0) 7.0 1 6 8 4 4 5.14
Pollack(0-1) 6.0 1 5 9 8 8 12.00
Olds (0-1) 5.1 5 2 11 8 8 13.50
J. Dawes 3.0 0 4 2 0 0 0.00
E. Dawes 1.2 1 1 1 0 0 0.00
Trok 1.0 0 2 2 0 0 0.00
Rincon 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 0.00
Winchester(Sv1) 1.0 0 0 2 0 0 0.00
Totals 26.0 9 21 35 20 20 6.92


WP- Johnsen (2), E. Dawes
Hit Batter- Olds (2)

MD FOUR SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

POOL A
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Sam 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 9 1
Assegai 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 x 5 12 0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 6 11 1
Okiela 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 0

POOL B
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WPasco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3
Az-cz 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 x 1 6 1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
PolCart 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 3 8 12 0
Cookes 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 6 12 0


POOL C
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Zwang 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 11 1
E.S.F. 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Lov. 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0
Kamp. 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 x 5 11 0

POOL D
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mlchma 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 1 0 7 9 0
Brvria 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 6 7 1

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kiryu- 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 9 0
IansIs 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 x 8 9 0


And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic


STANDINGS

POOL A
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
St. Sam 2-2 .500 --
Okiela 2-2 .500 --
Asseagi 2-2 .500 --
Qazox 2-2 .500 --


POOL B
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Az-cz 4-0 1.00 --
W. Pasco 2-2 .500 2
Pol Cart 2-2 .500 2
Cookes 0-4 .000 4
Az-cz has clinched Group, Cookesland is eliminated.

POOL C
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kampfers 3-1 .750 --
E.S.F. 2-2 .500 1
Zwangzug 2-2 .500 1
Lovisa 1-3 .250 2

Kampfers can clinch Playoff spot with a win and clinches group with a win and an ESF loss.


POOL D
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kiryu-shi 3-1 .750 --
Iansisle 2-2 .500 1
Milchama 2-2 .500 1
Braveria 1-3 .250 2

Kiryu-Shi can clinch spot with win and Milchama loss.

Milchama National News- Tribune- Sun- Times- Post- Gazette- Chronicle- Journal- Dispatch- Telegram- Star- Monitor- Enquirer

Sports Section

We can only beat Braveria

In what can only be deemed a "dissapointment" the proud Milchama Warriors has struggled in the new Baseball World Cup only beating up on group minnows Braveria for the second time this time though with James Rickey pitching instead of Phil Foster. Rickey though looked as shaky as Foster and failed only going 5 innings while surrendering that same amount of runs. The Bullpen did better though only giving up 1 run through 4 innings although Pat Vernon again gave up that run meaning that he needs to clamp down or else Dvir Lalton might still his closer spot.

The hitting was just as abysmal with only one inning of any rally. After loading up the bases with no out a sac fly, a double steal, a 2 RBI single by Flinter and a RBI double by Hamilton gave Milchama 4 runs and the lead. The offense could not get much going consecutively with Gool's 2 homeruns being a lot of the rest of the offense. The Warriors also manufactured a run in the 5th inning when Merrick stole second and third before being driven in by Marcus Loshe on a single to right field.

The Warriors need to pick it up and fast if they plan on advancing over Iansisle. Old players Tris Speaker and Al Rosen are going to come in to give these new Warriors lessons on the fundamentals to hopefully be able to beat the Longshoremen at their own game.

Come on Warriors!

(Faster than I expected! This one's for MD3...)

"Welcome back, Zwangzug. After a morning where I almost wanted to vomit as proof that I should have had the day off, I made it through and there's no place I'd rather be tonight than right here, winding up this homestand. Last in alphabetical order in the group...and the tournament...and a great deal of the rest of the world...three consecutive games at home follow a winding road trip to countries unlike our own, countries where capitalism is not outlawed...and perhaps even Qazox later on...

...Quave leans back coolly in the box, then steps back out. Returning, he turns the bat around in his hands. The pitch: connected strongly! Out to right field, and Ellis will come in after his magnificent double. One-nil Zwangzug here in the first. A rousing start.

Am I strange? Well, of course, but for fearing this early lead? This fragile butterfly with so-green wings? So easily pierced, as the supernal glory of coming from behind is at our cost? And Grush steps in, spits, swings mightily and misses with his flail...

...Soyne digs his foot into the mound. The sole starter from the Red-Tails, he just surrendered a shot that was "for the birds", and he's due to lead off the bottom of this third inning...

...Stagg walks back to the dugout, but his sacrifice fly scored Soyne, who reached on a walk...

...an insurance run, as they say, on Meyers' bunt. What is there to ensure? The bottom of the group? It is ours, but instead of defending it, offense comes. The score is now three to one...blastoff?...

...Percival tiring, will be removed after that run. It'll be Cooper. He hasn't had a great deal to save, and, up steps the Lovisan. A blazing fastball in the zone, 0-1. Outside high, nicks the corner, 1-1. Two pitches from the jovial Cooper, and he'll send a picturesque curveball to make it 1-2. Sign from Grush, comes in high: and drops through! Strike three...

...Staun batting for Cooper, who came in too early, it seems, surrendering another run to tie it. Staun drives it deep, deep, caught out in right-center. Eastman steps in, takes one for a strike. Grounded to second: four-three on the scorecard. No shame in going to extra innings, of course. But Ellis is up, taking ball one, and now, lined to short-over his head! I Don't Care streaking in, he'll score! Four-three Zwangzug, with its first win of the tournament! This is why we're at home, these bottom-of-the-ninth tiebreakers: this frozen shortstop's face and the dusty one of the man who climbs up are the images of baseball.

I am the Vox!"

Fromburg Free Press

The damnned Calves wona gain, and once again the Pool is tied up at 2-2 each. A lousy start by Frank Tinker as he allowed the 1st 5 batter he faced to get a hit, but somehow managed to give up only 3 runs. He then followed that up with 7 innings of 3 hit ball before Mark Winchester came and and saved the day again.

On the offensive side, due to the DH (what is that??) our pitcher didn't have to bat, which is total crap. the DH, John Green went 2-5 and knocked in the 1st run of the game. and Manuel Ortega got the start at catcher instead of Henry Bonds, who has not to mince words, swung like shit so far. Ortega hit knocked in the tying runs int he 6th and scored in the 8th to finsih it.

Up next is a trip to Assegai, who we somehow beat on Day 2. With "dead-arm" Ryan Olds scheduled to start, we should be on our way home with a loss, before the Assegai National anthem is complete.

Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 6 11 1
Okiela 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 0

BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 5 2 2 1 .400
CF- Gabe Reyes 4 0 0 0 .000
DH- John Green 5 2 0 1 .400
3B- David Ramierez 3 1 1 0 .333
RF- Juan Ortiz 4 2 2 0 .500
C- Manuel Ortega 4 2 1 2 .500
LF- Jack Sun 3 1 0 1 .333
1B- Qadi Olea 4 0 0 0 .000
SS- Paul Assen 4 1 0 1 .250
Totals 35 11 6 6 .314

2B- Ortega
3B- Reed
HR- Reed
GIDP- Reed
Error- Assen



PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Tinker 8.0 4 8 8 3 3 3.38 (W 1-0)
Winchester 1.0 0 2 0 0 0 0.00 (Sv.2)
Totals 9.0 4 10 8 3 3 3.00
Pollack pitched to 4 batters in 7th.

Qazox scoring:
Top of 1st:
Reed Triples to left center.
Reyes Walks.
Green Singles to left, Reed Scores.
Ramierez Walks.
Ortiz strikes out.
Ortega hits into FC (5-2), Reyes out at plate.
Sun Flies to left.
1 run, 2 hits, 3LOB
Top of 6th:
Green Singles to left.
Ramierez singles to center.
Oritz Singles to right, Green Out at plate (9-3-2). Ramierez and Ortiz advance on throw.
Ortega Doubles to right, Ramierez and Ortiz score.
Sun walks.
Okielahoma Pitching change.
Olea Popsout to short.
Assen grounds out to third (5-3).
2 runs, 4 hits, 2LOB
Top of 7th:
Reed Homers to left.
Reyes strikes out.
Green Flies out to to left
Ramierez strikes out.
1 run, 1 hit, 0LOB
Top of 8th:
Ortiz singles to third, throw late.
Ortega singles to right.
Sun singles to center, Ortiz scores, Ortega to third on throw.
Olea strikes out.
Assen singles to left, Ortega scores.
Reed grounds into double play (6-3).
2 runs, 4 hits 1LOB

Longshoremen Hit Parade!
Break out Kryptonite bats, push eight runs across

The crowd at Alexander Field (estimated at 13,451, with many more listening to public broadcasts in Gull Flag Square and Unsterbank Square) was treated to a offensive display. The Longshoremen hardly wasted a baserunner, pushing eight runs over the plate on nine hits and a walk. On the other end of the ball, Hammond Ipston pitched a brilliant eight innings, allowing just two runs on five hits.

Hal Reminford had a tough ninth inning, allowing a two-run home run to Kiryu-shi before a brilliant diving stop and throw by second sacker Thom Cully ended the inning and the game.

The game also featured the first Iansislean home run of the classic, a two-run bomb by Iggy Franks in the third.

The Longshoremen continue to be in a race with Milchama, the next team to visit Alexander Field, as Kiryu-shi figures to roll on to the second round and hapless Braveria flounders.

ooc: wow i totally forgot about this, but it looks like im doing well.

The dictator smiled to himself. One more win and Kampfers was in the playoffs, and the magic number to clinch the division was 1! The only loss had been a fallacy. He grinned with growing anticipation. Our win in the first WBC will prove that Kampfers can stand among the best in sports, unlike our poor World Cup showing. He relaxed, and was excited with the anticipation of the games to come.

Elven Times
Average?! Not To Be!!!

After putting together a piss poor first four performances, managing only two wins and two losses, the Dragons are facing the edge of their lives in the upcoming game. The squad will be playing home against Lovisa, who would need their spot in the playoffs with the win against the squad. Nikali Waque needs to have a good game, as his last three performances have been absolutely dreadful. In addition, Samui Inaol needs to be lights out on the mound, since the offence has struggled apart from the Lovisa game. It is puzzling to try and decipher why the squad has underperformed as it has, considering not one asset of the team is stronger than the other. It was thought going into the game that it would be easy to finish in the top two of their group, but the performances out on the field have not yielded the expected results.

Last week's loss against Zwangzung really stung, as the Dragons could of put real daylight between the two teams heading into the final two games of group play. Instead of having a tidy three and one record, the squad is now even with the Zwangs with a .500 record of two and two. Instead of being able to play cautiously with the Kampfers, they now have to lay it all out on the line in order to have a chance. With Lovisa in the next match, a win as the forgone conclusion due to form and talent, this game is the make or break for the Dragons. This has to be their best effort, or else the strides baseball has been making in a football obsessed country will take a huge hit, and the chances of a professional league forming be dashed before they were even allowed to begin. So baseball fans in this country, pray hard to Elune that she may give this squad a victory, or else you ought to look for a new country after this week.

Article by Lexias Rodgos

"Hello, Zwangzug! I am in Elves Security Forces with the team, yet even our simple radios function in this deeply strange land. It remains to be seen whether we can adjust: we will not succumb to tainting influences, but perhaps we can acquire the best of these other nations.

Dwight Eastman will start things off for the Zebras, as I have dubbed them. He takes inside: no, it'll be ruled a strike. Dwight a feisty, impatient hitter up there, waiting. Another pitch, drilled to left, he'll sprint around the corner with a stand-up double.

Ellis now, takes high. Dwight dancing off second: a pickoff throw-he's gone! Eastman must have wanted to slide on that last hit and he makes up for it now, sliding headfirst into third.

A pitch to Ellis anticlimactic but it comes, and he lilts it high and deep. Sacrifice fly should score a run, and in Eastman comes. One-nothing Zwangzug.

Stagg steps in, gripping the bat and turning it between his hands. He'll take a nice slider down the middle for strike one, wait, step out, back in the box. Pitch two: fouled the opposite way. Stagg digs in: pulled somewhat, but he'll be safe at first.

Terry Quave now batting. Takes a ball. No chance of picking off Stagg: he could be sitting on the base. Never a good baserunner, it seems. The pitch to Quave: driven! Out to center and over the wall for a home run! Three-nothing, and there is still only one out!...

...Stagg tosses to Donatelli, covering first, and softly requires Bradles. The ninth inning is over, but there is still more baseball to be played...

...Lee back to the dugout. I've never been good at reading emotions, but she would presumably be disappointed: it's the middle of the tenth, and Zwangzug must hold the Elves Security Forces scoreless once again, as they have every inning since the third. Three innings with one run each or one with three: the fulcrum balances anyhow, the great axis on which the game turns...

...Waque will be left stranded on third. Close, certainly, but nothing comes of this eleventh inning. To the twelfth, as we fade into the night...

...Alexis Paige now pinchhitting as the teams delve through their rosters. My scorecard is as illegible as is so much of my handwriting, but the numbers are still there. Paige timid, squares around: the pitch. A perfectly-deposited bunt, and the fielders are helpless: Ellis comes in with the first run in three hours...

...Cooper seems disoriented: it was a bullpen game, not a save situation. But he'll try to live up to the pressure. It's 3-2 now, still 1 strike away from victory after three consecutive balls followed a couple fouls.

Parikans swings.

Parikans misses.

Zwangzug wins it in the twelfth!

I am the Vox!"

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

MD FIVE SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

POOL A
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 0
Assegai 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 11 1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Sam 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 9 1
Okiela 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0

POOL B
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
PolCart 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 0
Az-cz 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 3 9 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
WPasco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Cookes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 7 1


POOL C
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Lov. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
E.S.F. 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 7 2


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Zwang 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 10 0
Kamp. 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0


POOL D
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mlchma 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 8 1
IansIs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 1

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kiryu- 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 14 1
Brvria 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0


STANDINGS

POOL A
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Assegai 3-2 .600 --
St. Sam 3-2 .600 --
Okiela 2-3 .400 1
Qazox 2-3 .400 1

POOL B
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Az-cz 5-0 1.00 --
W. Pasco 2-3 .400 3
Pol Cart 2-3 .400 3
Cookes 1-4 .200 4

POOL C
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kampfers 3-2 .600 --
E.S.F. 3-2 .600 --
Zwangzug 3-2 .600 --
Lovisa 1-4 .500 2

POOL D
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kiryu-shi 4-1 .800 --
Milchama 3-2 .600 1
Iansisle 2-3 .400 2
Braveria 1-4 .200 3

Playoff Senarios: (Should be a score-board watching type of day)

POOL A:
St. Samuel: Needs a win to clinch playoff berth, or a Okielahoma loss, or a loss by less than 4 runs. A win plus an Assegai loss, or a loss and Qazox win by less than 4 runs, and St. Samuel allows the same amount or fewer runs that Assegai does, wins them the group.

Assegai: A win clinches Playoff berth or a loss and a Qazox win by less than 8 runs over St. Samuel, or a loss and a Qazox win by allowing less runs than Assegai scores. A win plus a St. Samuel win in which St. Samuel allows 2 more runs than Assegai does, will win the group.

Okielahoma: A win over Assegai plus a St. Samuel win. A Qazox win over St. Samuel eliminates Okielahoma. (due to 0-2 rec vs. St. Samuel).

Qazox: A win by 4 or more runs over St. Samuel or a win plus an Assegai loss of more than 8 runs more than what Qazox allows.

If all 4 teams finished tied, best 2 ERA's will advance to the 2nd round. (currently Assegai and St. Samuel.)
(also please note that are other senarios for this group, but they are highly un-realistic.)

POOL B:
Az-cz: Has clinched division title.
The West Pasco-Political Cartoons winner will advance.

POOL C:
Zwangzug: needs a win or a Kampfers loss and if Kampfers allows more runs than what Zwangzug scores, (i.e: If Zwangzug lost 1-2, Kampers would have to lose by the score of 1-2 or worse (a 0-1 loss would send Kampfers through.)

The Kampfers-ESF winner will advance.

ESF: if Zwangzug loses, can advance if they lose and give up fewer than 4 runs.

Kampfers: can advance, if Zwangzug loses, if Kampfers loses by the score of only 1-0, any more runs allowed and Zwangzug will advance.

There are other ways for advancement for each team, too complicated to print.

POOL D:

Kiryu-shi: Has cliched playoff berth; a win clinches division.

Milchama: a Win clinches playoff berth or a Iansisle loss. Can still advance with a loss, provided Braveria scores 9 more runs than what Milchama allows.

Iansisle: Needs a win and a Milchama loss.

Milchama National News- Tribune- Sun- Times- Post- Gazette- Chronicle- Journal- Dispatch- Telegram- Star- Monitor- Enquirer

Sports Section

Foster Brilliant

In a show of complete domination Philip Foster pitched a complete game 7 hitter against Iansisle to give Milchama a 3-2 record put us in control of our own destiny to make the playoffs. The brilliance of Foster could not be understated, most of the hits were scattered and 3 key double play sinkers kept the game well within reach for a struggling Warriors offense that at points seemed to also not be able to string consecutive hits together.

Clearly the coaching of Tris Speaker and Al Rosen worked and they'll be back again to help the Warriors train for Kiryu-shi so that Milchama can win and get to the quarterfinals. Now for the rendition of how they scored:

Top 2nd: Marcus Loshe up to the plate. He's had an alright series so far and we can only hope that it gets better. Not yet though as he strikes out swinging against the gas of Mouthy Parkson. That brings up Kent Monarch, Monarch hitting only .111 so far needs something to break out of his funk. And he has it low and away Monarch singles to right one on no out for Ronny Bjork. Bjork waits, the pitch, slapped into left field, it's going, going off the wall! Monarch rounding third and he will score! 1-0 Milchama. Bjork again showing off his power.

Top 8th: The pitching has been great both the Longshormen and the Warriors have had a tough time getting anything off these guys. Both Parksons and Foster have not allowed a run since the second. Parksons though looks tired as Carmic leads off with a single. You would think that Manager Bentil would pull out Foster now but he isn't as Phil comes up, in bunt position, he bunts it down the third base line and is thrown out but Carmic to second with one out. That brings up Kenny Merrick who also bunts, a perfect bunt down the third base line but he's thrown out as Carmic moves to third. Del Carmic on third with two out. Michael Flinter at the plate but first a pitching change...

We're back Kellen Fort into pitch. Michael Flinter needs to get a hit to give Milchama the insurance run at 2-0. 1-2 count the pitch by Fort drilled by Flinter over the shortstop and it will... DROP! Del Carmic scores! It's 2-0 Milchama! Michael Flinter with a brash linedrive that barely fell in front of Bart Diggs to give Milchama the needed insurance run.

Bottom 8th: Ed Acorn up to bat. Foster working on his 89th pitch, Milchama starters known for going on long pitch counts even with only 3 days of rest. Foster though seems really relaxed and focused, as he rocks and fires for strike 1. Acorn gets ready again, Foster throws and Acorn smacks the ball up the first base line Gool makes a dive for it but not good enough as it sneaks past him into right field. Acorn easily gets to second. One on no outs for Sam Jovens. 0-2 pitch, it's a forkball, Jovens swings and misses. I'm sure he'll get berated in the dugout for that poor at bat. He certainly seemed to cave into pressure there. 1 out one on for Thom Cully. Cully known for his glove but not his bat comes in, in a very clutch spot. Oh wait nevermind Cully is being replaced by Joe Gallaga. Anywhoo Foster gets ready and Gallaga swings the ball is smashed, ooooh and it falls in, Acorn runs the throw by Merrick it's online, the play at the plate OUCH! the ball falls out! Eddy Acorn scores as Gallaga moves to third. Bad situation for Foster here. The ball almost took Good Phil's head off then the throw by Merrick was online but Acorn took Carmic out to score a run, Gallaga advanced to second on the throw and to third with the dropped ball.

Luckily Foster forced a popup and then a groundout to get out of the threat and give Milchama the well needed victory. Now at 3-2 the Warriors control their own fate as the newspaper in Qasox put it:
Milchama: a Win clinches playoff berth

So Come on Warriors!

Az-cz Scroll
Qazox
Ya-Kyu

Gnomes continue to dominate weak competition

The Pink & Green have redefined the phrase looking good this competition. Yes they're still undefeated, the last team in the tournament to do so, but they've done so just by the skin of their teeth, as once again they just had enough pitching and hitting to get the job done squeaking by Political Cartoons by a score of 3-2.

With the spot in the playoffs clinched the gnomes tinkered with their starting rotation, skipping Schmidt's spot in the rotation to make sure he'd be fresh for the start of playoffs and running Marichal out instead. Despite the short rest Marichal pitched quite excellently, mowing down the first 11 hitters he faced. Meanwhile in the second inning Az-cz strung some hits together to put up three runs. It started with a Will Clark lead off double. Mt-Wl singled him home, then Bn-Sntg bunted him over to second and Hoz-Yrb singled him home. Marichal again executed a perfect bunt to move Hoz-Yrb to second where for the third time in the inning a timely hit sent an Az-cz runner around to home. That inning exemplified Az-cz baseball. Nothing overwhelming but solid fundamentals and smart base running carried the day.

Marichal kept his pitching on cruise control working six scoreless innings allowing just 2 hits in those six innings. Fe-Ya came on in relief and had an easy time in the seventh, but struggled in the 8th giving up a leadoff single and then a home run, when he was pulled for Phil Ford. Ford gave up a single to the next batter but then mowed down six consecutive batters to finish the game off for the Gnomes.

The victory moved the team to 5-0 and guaranteed a tie for best record in the group stage. Still most analysts in Az-cz were saying the team was in for trouble in the knockout stages. Bob-Cst had this to say about the team, "No offense to the other teams in our group, but they're crap. And yet three times we've won by a single run. There's just no way we'll continue that in the knockouts. But regardless five wins in five matches is positive, even if possibly undeserved." Maybe that we'll provide inspiration to the Robbers. We'll just have to see what happens in the knockout round.

Fromburg Free Press

Yes the Calves lost again, and are just about eliminated from the next round thanks to the lousy pitching of Ryan Olds, who save the bullpen went the full 8 innings, earning his 2nd loss. Manuel Ortega did well again knocking all three runs.

A trip back home vs. St. Samuel is our final game unless we win and by at least 4 runs and if Assegai wins and the cow jumps over the moon, we'll advacne to the next round.

Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 0
Assegai 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 11 1

BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 4 2 1 0 .500
CF- Gabe Reyes 4 1 1 0 .250
3B- David Ramierez 3 0 0 0 .333
RF- Juan Ortiz 4 1 1 0 .250
C- Manuel Ortega 4 3 0 3 .750
LF- John Green 4 0 0 0 .000
1B- Qadi Olea 4 0 0 0 .000
SS- Paul Assen 4 1 0 0 .250
P- Ryan Olds 4 0 0 0 .000
Totals 35 8 3 3 .229

2B- Ortiz, Ortega

PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Olds 8.0 2 9 11 5 5 5.63 (L 0-2)
Totals 8.0 2 9 11 5 5 5.63

HBP- Olds (3)
PB- Ortega (1)

Qazox scoring:
Top of 2nd:
Ortiz Doubles to right field
Ortega singles to left, Ortiz Scores.
Green Strikes out.
Olea Flies out to center.
Assen ground out (4-3).
1 run, 2 hits, 1LOB
Top of 3rd:
Olds Strikes out.
Reed Singles to center.
Reyes Infield hit to third, Reed to 2nd.
Ramierez Walks, Reed to 3rd, Reyes to 2nd.
Ortiz stikes out looking.
Ortega ground rule double to left, Reed and Reyes Score, Ramierez to 3rd.
Green strikes out.
Olea Grounds out (6-3)
2 runs, 3 hits, 2LOB

"Hi there, Zwangzug. On the road again, in Kampfers: a harsh land where power is in purchase, and the power goes to the people.

Zwangzug will lead off, as in the previous and next games of this wild road trip. Here is Eastman now, against Kampfers' ace Billy Joe.

The first pitch outside, Ist must leap to grab it and return it. Eastman settles in. The next: swung on and fouled out to the left. 1-1 the count, we've just gotten underway from the Kampferian stadium, as Dwight Eastman gets the pitch. Nice-placed single out to left.

Eastman daring, far off the bag as Ellis steps in. Taunts Joe, farther out, farther...He'll pitch to Ellis, who takes it for a strike as Eastman leisurely jogs back to first base. One on, count of 0 and 1.

Next pitch comes in, and Ellis seems ready to jump on it: but no, an awkward swing. No chance there: 0 and 2 becomes the count.

And another delivery from Joe. This one Ellis will take, ball one-wait! Eastman's gone, over to second. A flustered Ist can't make the throw, so a runner on second with the count 1 and 2.

Next pitch to Ellis: lifted into right field. Eastman will come in to make it 1-0.

Stagg, now, bats, and he'll waste no time on swinging at the first pitch: a loud foul past the pole. Swinging for the fences fails dismally, so a count of 0 and 1 on Stagg. Joe winds, fires: Stagg unloads this one, a driving liner. Ellis moves around to third.

Terry Quave steps up to the plate: he seemed a little off in the on-deck circle, we'll see how he does. I suppose I will be the only one seeing, but you will hear: wherever you are, the pulse of the game carries images encrypted in this enigma we call our language. The count 0 and 1 after Quave foul-tips it, and here's a dinky hit into shallow center-but-Ellis will make it in! Safe at the plate. 1 away now with Quave's fly, but 2 runs in for Zwangzug.

Thomas Grush now batting as Stagg has moved up to second. Grush digs into the dirt, his spikes rubbing at the Kampferian ground.

And a stinging double from Grush, and Stagg will score. Once again, Zwangzug has scored three in the first, just like the last game. The desperate quest to find a pattern will never finish, not unless every game is solved and known, everything proven, and then the desperation will be to find a meaning to live...

...Bases loaded for Kampfers with one away as Ist comes to bat. This could get to be a very high-scoring game. But? The pitch from Runnon, and it's grounded sharply. I Don't Care scoops it up and tries to throw home, but he'll accidentally hit Blalock! Blalock tagged out and the force is off at home, so I Don't Care will toss it back to a bewildered Eastman who just now has gotten to second base. One run is in, but an odd double play will get Zwangzug out of the inning...

...Crawford lazily steps in: he grounded to third on his first at-bat. Now he'll wait on the pitch from Runnon, and here it is: smacked into right field. He'll hold up at second.

And Blalock now, coolly approaching. He takes a borderline pitch that the Lovisan umpire will call a ball.

Runnon delivers: Blalock will take again. This was on the inside half of the plate, but still over it, so the count is even. Once again, Runnon from the stretch: Blalock takes pickily. 1 and 2: he has not moved the bat from his shoulder.

A fourth pitch, and he finally swings. Worth the wait for Hank Blalock, who parks it comfortably on the far side of the centerfield wall. The game's tied at three...

...and Quave'll walk back to the dugout, Joe really having his number today. Grush up. He swings and misses, will try again: the delivery from Billy Joe. Grush tips it lightly up, and it'll be foul. 0 and 2.

So once again, Grush steps in. Swung on, and this time pulled out to left. He'll hold at first.

Lee now. Pitch taken high. The score 3-all if you're just joining us: Zwangzug's batting in the top of the fourth. Us? Me, I suppose. I'm alone, and enjoy it: yet I am bound not just to the game below, but all the listeners in the night, those who have a clear digital broadcast inside the Ziggurat, those who adjust the analog dials one notch at a time with precision. I have been both: inside the walls, working for the government for whom we all work, somewhat, with capitalism having been unilaterally eliminated. And I have been a half-asleep child, rotating as I try to connect with a past that is perhaps all myth.

And as I blather, Lee walks. Runners on first and second now for Ridge.

He takes tentatively: a strike. More assertively, he digs in, waits on the pitch: and launches it into the outfield. As Bauer plods after it, Ridge will keep running as the runners on score: he'll go ahead to third. 5-3 Zwangzug from a triple by Ridge...

...Cooper looking skyward, not quite keeping his eye on the ball that lands in his glove anyhow to finish off a Zwangzug victory.

I am the Vox!"

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

MD SIX SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

POOL A
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 R H E
Okiela 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 12 0
Assegai 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 11 1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Sam 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0
Qazox 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 x 5 10 2

POOL B
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cookes 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 7 13 1
Az-cz 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 12 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WPasco 0 0 4 1 3 3 0 0 0 11 12 1
PolCart 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 5 13 3


POOL C
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kamp. 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 4 0
E.S.F. 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Zwang 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1
Lov. 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 3 10 1


POOL D
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Mlchma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 9 0
Kiryu- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
IansIs 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 6 8 0
Brvria 1 0 1 1 0 3 2 0 x 8 12 0

STANDINGS

POOL A
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Asseagi 4-2 .667 --
Qazox 3-3 .500 1
St. Sam 3-3 .500 1
Okiela 2-4 .333 2

Qazox get playoff berth due to Runs scored per 9 innings, (4.50 to 3.00).

POOL B
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Az-cz 5-1 .833 --
W. Pasco 3-3 .500 2
Pol Cart 2-4 .333 3
Cookes 2-4 .333 3

POOL C
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Kampfers 4-2 .667 --
E.S.F. 3-3 .500 1
Zwangzug 3-3 .500 1
Lovisa 2-4 .333 2

ESF gets playoff berth based on Runs scored per 9 innings, (3.50 to 2.83).

POOL D
TEAM W-L .PCT GB
Milchama 4-2 .667 --
Kiryu-shi 4-2 .667 --
Braveria 2-4 .333 2
Iansisle 2-4 .333 2

Milchama wins group on better away record (3-0 to 2-1).


QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS:

ESF (3-3) vs. Az-cz (5-1) Game 1 @ ESF, Games 2 and 3 @ Az-cz.

Qazox (3-3) vs. Milchama (4-2) Game 1 @ Qazox, Games 2 and 3 @ Milchama.

Kiryu-shi (4-2) vs. Assegai Developments (4-2) Game 1 @ Kiryushi, Games 2 and 3 @ Assegai Developments.

West Pasco (3-3) vs. Kampfers (4-2) Game 1 @ West Pasco, Games 2 and 3 @ Kampfers.

Quarterfinals begin on Monday April 23rd.

Lovisa is credited with scoring a run in the fifth, and would therefore have been trailing 2-1 after 9 innings as Zwangzug scored 2. They then scored a run in the tenth for a total of three...

Lovisa is credited with scoring a run in the fifth, and would therefore have been trailing 2-1 after 9 innings as Zwangzug scored 2. They then scored a run in the tenth for a total of three...

I apologize, Lovisa scored in the 7th... and i forgot to put it in.. the score still is the same, but i'm just human you know?"

Final team standings:


BY RECORD:
Az-cz 5-1 .833
Milchama 4-2 .667
Kampfers 4-2 .667
Kiryu-shi 4-2 .667
Assegai Developments 4-2 .667
Elves Security Forces 3-3 .500
Qazox 3-3 .500
West Pasco 3-3 .500
St. Samuel 3-3 .500
Zwangzug 3-3 .500
Iansisle 2-4 .333
Okielahoma 2-4 .333
Cookesland 2-4 .333
Political Cartoons 2-4 .333
Braveria 2-4 .333
Lovisa 2-4 .333

BY ERA:
Assegai Developments- 2.23
Elves Security Forces- 2.73
Az-cz- 2.73
Kiryu-shi- 2.89
West Pasco- 3.03
Okielahoma- 3.12
Zwangzug- 3.13
Kampfers- 3.23
St. Samuel- 3.29
Milchama- 3.63
Iansisle- 3.98
Lovisa- 4.08
Qazox- 4.85
Braveria- 5.71
Cookesland- 5.77
Political Cartoons- 5.83

By Batting Average:
Az-cz: .285
Kiryu-shi: .279
Qazox: .271
Cookesland: .267
Political Cartoons: .264
Milchama: .260
Braveria: .257
Kampfers: .246
Elves Security Forces: .240
Zwangzug: .239
West Pasco: .237
Assegai Developments: .235
Okielahoma: .233
Iansisle: .220
St. Samuel: .212
Lovisa: .209

Fromburg Free Press

Dammit.. who came up with these tiebreakers? A 5-1 win today over St. Samuel, coupled with Assegai's 17-inning win over Okielahoma, advanced Qazox into the Quarterfinals where the Calves will take on Milchama.

It got started right in the first inning when David Ramierez, who until this point had underwhelmed, knocked in the first of his 4 RBIs. Even the pitcher managed to get a hit and score. it was like St Samuel just gave the game to us. Maybe they were smart, as Wentland looks unstoppable, winning its last 4 in a row, including all three road games.

In other quarterfinals, Az-cz will take on ESF, Assegai takes on Kiru-shi and West Pasco will play Kampfers. Don't know about the other quarterfinals, but this one should be over by Tuesday, with a Milchama sweep.



Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Sam 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0
Qazox 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 x 5 10 2

BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 4 2 1 0 .500
CF- Gabe Reyes 3 0 1 1 .000
3B- David Ramierez 4 2 1 4 .500
RF- Juan Ortiz 4 1 0 0 .250
C- Manuel Ortega 4 1 0 0 .250
LF- John Green 3 1 1 0 .333
1B- Qadi Olea 4 2 0 0 .500
SS- Paul Assen 4 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Johnsen 4 1 1 0 .250
Totals 34 10 5 5 .294

2B- Ramierez
HR- Ramierez
Sac- Johnsen
GIDP- Olea

Errors: Assen, Johnsen
PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Johnsen 9.0 0 8 4 1 1 1.00 (W 2-0)
Totals 9.0 0 8 4 1 1 1.00


Qazox scoring:
Bottom of 1st:
Reed singles to left.
Reyes grounds into fielder's choice (6-4).
Ramierez doubles to left, Reyes Scores.
Ortiz strikes out.
Ortega Grounds out (6-3).
1 run, 2 hits, 1LOB
Bottom of 2nd:
Green Walks.
Olea singles to left, Green to 2nd.
Assen Strikes out.
Johnsen Sacrifice bunt (2-3). Green to 3rd, Olea to 2nd.
Reed Walks.
Reyes Walks, Green Scores. Olea to 3rd, Reed to 2nd.
Ramierez flies out to left.
1 run, 1 hit, 3LOB
Bottom of 7th:
Johnsen singles to left.
Reed singles to center, Johnsen to 2nd.
Reyes stikes out looking.
Ramierez homers to right, Johnsen and Reed Score.
St. Samuel Pitching change.
Ortiz singles to left.
Ortega walks, Ortiz to 2nd.
Green singles to right, Ortiz to 3rd, Ortega to 2nd.
Olea grounds into double play (5-4-3).
3 runs, 5 hits, 2LOB

"Hello out there, Zwangzug. Live from Lovisa now, in the final game of pool play. With a victory, Zwangzug will advance. A loss, and it will hinge on the runs scored here and in the Kampfers-Elves Security Forces game. All coming down to mathematics, the interplay of so many numbers...

...and a misplay by the Lovisan at third base will send the southpaw Macdougal to first. Eastman up now, takes for a ball. Top of the third here in Lovisa as clouds gather, the stars obstructed by such a watery mass. The pitch: popped up past second, Eastman will sprint down the line and Macdougal somehow make it to second.

Ellis now stepping in. Eastman takes a cautious lead from first, but he won't be running with the pitcher on second. Swung on and missed by Ellis. He'll take another swipe at this next pitch and foul it off, 0 and 2 is the count. Two on, one away. The pitch: pulled with strength to left. Macdougal plows in, Eastman easily catches up to come in right behind him with the first runs of the game. It's two-nothing...

...that'll be all for Macdougal, after that home run swatted...

...seated back down from the stretch. Some traditions are the same everywhere, whether in Zwangzug, Lovisa, or nations where capitalism is not shunned.

The pitch from Root is taken high for a ball by the Lovisan left fielder. Grust returns it, and-it hit him! Plunks the batter, but he'll make it to first.

Next batter up. Taken for a ball: Grush'll trot to the mound and try to calm Root down as Leon starts up in the bullpen. Another pitch, this one low, but swung on and missed. 1 and 1 is the count. Root from the stretch, delivers: grounded sharply to third. Ridge bends down-and it gets by him! He'll chase that down as the runner advances to second. Two on, nobody out, and Ridge is taking it badly, dejection plain on his face.

Next batter waits on a ball as the runners take their leads off first and second. Score of 2 to 1 here in the bottom of the second. Another ball makes it 2 and 0.

Now skied, hit high to center. Quave will dash back but he can't catch it on the fly, so he'll grab it on the first bounce and fire home, a beautiful throw from Quave, but in time! Grush catches it, the runner slides in the dust: I think he got him!...

...surprisingly enough, Keer and not Cooper to close it out. Two away in the bottom of the ninth, and: a pop-up to Ridge. Catching it to atone from what could have been a horrible miscue in the seventh makes it three, and Zwangzug will-wait-what? Trodding off the field silently to the dugout and-what's going on here? Lee in the on-deck circle?

Checking the line score here: the seventh! Quave did not gun down the runner, Lovisa scored and I've gone on pretending otherwise for two innings! 2-2, it's a whole new ballgame!

The game's over in Elves Security Forces, with Kampfers having won 3-1. With the home team only having surrendered three runs, it looks like Zwangzug must pull this off in order to go onto the next round: otherwise, it ends on a stormy night in Lovisa, my voice hacking and erratic...

...one away here in the bottom of the tenth, with a runner on second. Keer pitches: it's past Ridge down the third base line. Quave beats Lee to it but it's too late, the run's already in. Lovisa wins, and Zwangzug is eliminated."

Ember Nickel, Composite Minister of socialist Zwangzug, turned away from the microphone and coughed up a green substance.

"I am the Vox!"

Qazox' Stats so far.
BATTING (by Average):
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
C- Manuel Ortega 12 6 1 5 .500
2B- Juan Reed 27 12 9 1 .444
LF- Jack Sun 14 6 2 3 .429
RF- Juan Ortiz 25 9 5 3 .360
LF- John Green 13 4 2 3 .308
SS- Paul Assen 23 6 1 3 .261
CF- Gabe Reyes 25 6 4 3 .240
3B- David Ramierez 21 5 2 6 .238
P- Eric Johnsen 7 1 1 0 .143
1B- Qadi Olea 23 3 0 0 .130
C- Henry Bonds 11 0 1 0 .000
P- Ryan Olds 6 0 0 0 .000
P- Kyle Pollack 2 0 0 0 .000
P- Jason Dawes 2 0 0 0 .000
PH- Thomas Franks 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Dawes 0 0 0 0 .000
P- Ivan Trok 0 0 0 0 .000
P- Pablo Rincon 0 0 0 0 .000
P- Mark Winchester 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 214 58 28 28 .271

2B- Reed, Reyes (2), Ramierez (2), Olea, Ortiz, Ortega
3B- Reyes, Reed
HR- Ortiz (2), Green, Sun, Reed, Ramierez
SB- Sun, Reyes (2)
CS- Sun, Olea
GIDP- Olea (5), Bonds, Ortiz, Reed
HBP- Ramierez
Errors- Sun, Assen (2), Johnsen

PITCHING: (by IP)
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Johnsen 16.0 1 14 12 5 5 2.81 (2-0)
Olds 13.1 7 11 22 13 13 8.78 (0-2)
Tinker 8.0 4 8 8 3 3 3.38 (1-0)
Pollack 6.0 1 5 9 8 8 12.00 (0-1)
J. Dawes 3.0 0 4 2 0 0 0.00
Winchester 2.0 0 2 2 0 0 0.00 Sv.-2
E. Dawes 1.2 1 1 1 0 0 0.00
Trok 1.0 0 2 2 0 0 0.00
Rincon 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 0.00
Totals 52.0 15 21 35 20 20 3.46


WP- Johnsen (2), E. Dawes
Hit Batter- Olds (3)
PB- Ortega

Az-cz Scroll
Az-cz
Ya-Kyu

Az-cz finally loses, worriers come out in force

In the last game of the group stage the Gnomes were facing the weak Cookesland team and were beaten fairly easily by a score of 7-2.

Mk-Krk took the mound on short rest and alternated between throwing amazingly and getting blasted. He pitched perfect ball for two innings, then gave up 4 runs and 7 hits, then two more perfect innings, then three runs and six hits, then three more perfect innings. The team had decided to ride him the whole match to save the bullpen for the next round.

On the offensive side of the ball there was next to no action. Ich-Ro had a lead off single, stole second and third and was sacced home in the first and an error allowed Wl-My to come home in the fifth but there was little to cheer for in the game for Robbers fans.

Despite the disappointing loss the Gnomes would statistically go into the next round as the favorites, having posted the best record and batting average and tied for second best ERA. But most baseball experts in Az-cz are saying that those statistics don't tell the whole story. Bob-Cst had this opinion about the teams chances. "Despite a weak group we only ended with a plus seven run differential. We're hitting well but not getting runs like we should. I don't think we'll make it past the next round."

The schedule for the next round has been decided. We'll travel to Elves Security Forces before coming back to Az-cz for the second game, and third game if it's necessary. Elves Security Forces is the other team tied with Az-cz on ERA, so one can expect a pitchers duel in this series. The Az-cz rotation has been sorted out to be Jason Schmidt in Elves Security Forces and Juan Marichal in game two. The game three starter has yet to be decided.

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

QUARTERFINALS GAME 1 SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Assegai 1 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 7 11 0
Kiryu- 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 9 1

ASSEGAI leads series 1-0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mlchma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Qazox 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 1 7 0
QAZOX leads series 1-0


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R H E
Az-cz 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 12 0
E.S.F. 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 12 0

ESF leads series 1-0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kamp. 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 8 1
WPasco 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 x 3 7 0

W. PASCO leads series 1-0

Scores for Games 2 and 3 (if needed) will be up late on Tuesday and Wednesday.. (due to college).

Fromburg Free Press

I cannot believe I'm writting this, but Qazox is only one win away from the semifinals after a 1-0 win over Milchama at home earlier today. Milchama, the team that had won 4 in a row, and all three of its road games to this point came into Qazox as a favorite and now heads home shaking thier heads.

Orlando Jackson, who hadn't played a game yet, got the start at shortstop for struggling Paul Assen, managed to knock in the only run of the game in the bottom of the 6th with a suicide squeeze that fooled Milchama third baseman Kent Monarch.

Now we head to Milchama and with lefty James Rickey on the mound, it could be a long day for the Calves.



Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mlchma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Qazox 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 1 7 0

BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 4 1 0 0 .250
CF- Gabe Reyes 4 1 0 0 .250
C- Manuel Ortega 4 1 1 0 .250
RF- Juan Ortiz 3 1 0 0 .333
3B- David Ramierez 4 0 0 0 .000
LF- John Green 4 1 0 0 .250
SS- Orlando Jackson 3 1 0 1 .333
1B- Qadi Olea 3 1 0 0 .333
P- Frank Tinker 1 0 0 0 .000
1- Kyle Werth 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Dawes 1 0 0 0 .000
Totals 32 7 1 1 .219
1-Pinch-hit for Tinker in 5th.

Reached on Error: Ramierez in 8th

PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Tinker 5.0 2 3 3 0 0 0.00
E. Dawes 3.0 0 2 1 0 0 0.00 W (1-0)
Winchester 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Sv 3
Totals 9.0 2 5 4 1 1 0.00


Qazox scoring:
Bottom of 6th
Reyes flies out to Left.
Ortega singles to center.
Ortiz walked intentionally, Ortega to 2nd.
Ramierez Infield-Fly-Rule to Short.
Green Singles to left, Ortega to 3rd, Ortiz to 2nd.
Jackson singles to left, Ortega scores, Ortiz to 3rd, Green to 2nd.
Olea strikes out.
1 run, 3 hits, 3LOB

(sorry, but i couldn't post last nite, got out of college @ 11pm here's Game 2 scores.. game 3's will be up on Thursday)



And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

QUARTERFINALS GAME 2 SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kiryu- 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 9 0
Assegai 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 1

Series tied 1-1

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
E.S.F. 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 2
Az-cz 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 x 3 9 1
Series tied 1-1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R H E
Qazox 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 1
Mlchma 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 10 1

Series tied 1-1

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WPasco 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 6 8 1
Kamp. 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 6 1

W. PASCO Wins series 2-0

"Wow! dude, 14 innings how did that happen?"

"We didn't score"

"I mean how in the world did we win?"

"The grace of Baby Jesus and Margaret"

"Who is Margaret?"

"She is the god of all our sporting events, she decides who wins and loses, when and by how much, she apparently likes sacrificed rubber chickens"

"Well let us help her"

*20 minutes one trip to Walreds and a rubber chicken later*

"What's the proper ceremony for sacrificing a rubber chicken?"

"I dunno always got bored after the 'Praying to Margaret helped SnubNose 38 beat Bedistan once'"

"Who is Snub 38 and who is Bedistan?"

"I dunno a couple of old nations"

"Ok, so we have no idea what to do with this ceremony"

"Nope"

"F---"

"Well... ummmmm..... LET'S MAKE SOMETHING UP!"

"Ok!"

"Well ummm... let's be like the Maori, so

''Ringa pakia!''
''Uma tiraha!''
''Turi whatia!''
''Hope whai ake!''
''Waewae takahia kia kino!''
''Ka mate, ka mate''
''Ka ora, ka ora''
''Ka mate, ka mate''
''Ka ora, ka ora''
''Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru''
''Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā''
''Ā upane, ka upane''
''Whiti te rā, hī!''

"That's not enough!"

"Ok! Strip to your boxers let's continue"

"Masani"
"Gonane!"
"Fitaria"
"Zeganatrae"
"This doesn't make sense!"

"Umm... let's start running around randomly screaming"

"Sure"

*5 minutes of running later*

"Wow that was weird"

"Let's do it"

"But first THE PRAYER"

"We pray the Margaret of SnubNose 38 that you may deliver us victory over Qasox and any other infidels that we face in international play"

*A swoosh of an axe*

"You missed the chicken! How did you miss the chicken?"

"He moved"

"What?!"

"It's a rubber chicken! He can't move"

"Well try again"

*The second time he swings the axe*

"Margaret we pray that you take this sacrifice of a rubber chicken in good faith and that by your deliverance Milchama does well in all international competitions"

"Amen."

Fromburg Free Press

Well I was right about the long day, as the Calves lost in 14 innings to Milchama last night, tying the series up at 1 game each. Henry Bonds finally got a hit, a tying pinch-hit homerun with 2 outs in the top of 9th, which led to the extra frames.

Qazox had a chance in the 13th to end it, but Pinch hitter Jack Spade stuck out witht he bases loaded to end the oppertunity. Ivan Trok got the loss after allowing a walk-off 2-run homerrun in the bottom of the 14th.

Each team depleted their bullpen and bench last night, so today's game could go either way, but somehow Qazox will lose, and I'll finally be back to covering real sports like football.

Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R H E
Qazox 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 1
Mlchma 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 10 1


BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 5 1 0 0 .200
CF- Gabe Reyes 7 2 1 0 ..286
C- Manuel Ortega 6 1 0 0 .167
RF- Juan Ortiz 7 3 0 1 .429
5/RF-Thomas Franks 0 0 0 0 .000
3B- David Ramierez 6 1 0 0 .167
LF- John Green 3 0 0 0 .000
SS- Orlando Jackson 5 0 0 0 .000
1B- Qadi Olea 5 0 0 0 .000
P- Kyle Pollack 2 0 0 0 .000
1- Kyle Werth 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Eric Dawes 0 0 0 0 .000
2- Henry Bonds 1 1 1 1 1.000
P- Jason Dawes 0 0 0 0 .000
3- Jack Sun 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Pablo Rincon 0 0 0 0 .000
P- Mark Winchester 0 0 0 0 .000
4- Jack Spade 1 0 0 0 .000
P- Ivan Trok 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 50 9 2 2 .180
1- Pinch-hit for Pollack in 7th
2- Pinch Hit for E. Dawes in 9th
3- Pinch Hit for Rincon in 11th
4- Pinch hit for Winchester in 13th
5- Pinch Ran for Ortiz in 14th


2B- Ortiz-2
HR- Bonds
HBP- Ortega
Reached on Error: Ramierez in 4th
Error: Pollack

PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Pollack 6.0 2 8 6 2 2 3.00
E. Dawes 2.0 1 3 1 0 0 0.00
J. Dawes 2.0 2 2 1 0 0 0.00
Rincon 2.0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Winchester 1.0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Trok 0.1 0 1 2 2 2 54.00 (L 0-1)
Totals 13.1 5 18 10 4 4 2.70


Qazox scoring:
Top of 4th
Reed Walked.
Reyes Singled to center, Reed out trying to advance (8-5).
Ortega Hit by pitch, Reyes to 2nd.
Ortiz doubled to left, Reyes scored, Ortega out at plate (7-5-2).
Ramierez reached on Error, (E-3), Ortiz to third.
Green Walked. Ortiz to 3rd, Ramierez to 2nd.
Jackson stuck out.
1 run, 2 hits, 3LOB
Top of 9th
Jackson struck out
Olea flied out to right
Bonds pinch-hitting for E. Dawes.
Bonds homers to center.
Reed singles to left.
Reyes srtikes out.
1 run, 2 hits, 1LOB
(ooc: Milchama, this assumes that your pitchers walked 6 batters during the game. sorry if it upsets you.)

The 1st games of the Semi-finals will be up tomorrow.

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

QUARTERFINALS GAME 3 SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kiryu- 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 10 1
Assegai 2 3 1 0 2 0 1 1 x 10 15 0

Assegai wins series 2-1

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
E.S.F. 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 7 1
Az-cz 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 7 1
Az-cz wins series 2-1


SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 5 12 1
Mlchma 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 x 7 11 0

Milchama wins series 2-1

Oh the Match-ups of course:

Az-cz vs. Milchama (Az-cz Hosts Games 2 & 3)
West Pasco vs. Assegai Devlopments (Assegai Hosts Games 2 & 3).

Fromburg Free Press

Finally this stupid Baseball tourney is over for Qazox as they lose to Milchama in game 3, 7-5. Ryan Olds lost his 3rd start of these games, but in all fairness, he pitched the entire game due to the 14 inning game last nite that wiped out the entire bullpen. A late rally in the 9th saw a 7-2 deficit cut down to 7-5, but three striaght stik outs with the bases loaded and no-one out did the team in.

I'm now off to the Olympics and my assignment is going to be.... (opens an envelope...) OH SHIT BASEBALL AGAIN?????

Greg Haddix, Baseball Hater

STATS:
SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Qazox 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 5 12 1
Mlchma 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 x 7 11 0


BATTING:
Qazox: AB H R RBI .BA
2B- Juan Reed 4 2 0 2 .500
CF- Gabe Reyes 5 3 0 1 .600
C- Manuel Ortega 5 0 0 0 .000
RF- Juan Ortiz 5 0 0 0 .000
3B- David Ramierez 5 1 0 0 .200
LF- John Green 4 1 1 0 .250
SS- Orlando Jackson 4 2 2 0 .500
1B- Qadi Olea 4 3 2 2 .750
P- Ryan Olds 3 0 0 0 .000
Totals 39 12 5 5 .308

2B- Olea
HR- Olea
Error: Jackson

PITCHING:
Pitcher IP BB K H R ER ERA
Olds 8.0 0 2 11 7 7 7.88 (L 0-3)
Totals 8.0 0 2 11 7 7 7.88


Qazox scoring:
Top of 5th:
Jackson singled to Left
Olea doubles to right, Jackson to 3rd.
Olds Strikes out.
Reed singles to right, Jackson scores, Olea to 3rd.
Reyes flies out to right.
Ortega Grounds out.
1 run, 3 hits, 2 LOB
Top of 7th:
Jackson flies out.
Olea inside-the-park-Homerun to center.
Olds strikes out.
Reed walks.
Reyes flies out.
1 run, 1 hit, 1LOB
Top of 9th:
Green singles to center.
Jackson singles to left, Green to 2nd.
Olea singles to right, Green scores, Jackson to 3rd.
Olds intentionally walked, Green to 2nd.
Reed singles to left, Jackson scores, Green to 3rd, Olds to 2nd.
Reyes singles to left, Green scores, Olds to 3rd, Reed to 2nd.
Milchama pitching change.
Ortega Strikes out.
Ortiz strikes out.
Ramierez strikes out.
3 runs, 5 hits, 3 LOB

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

SEMIFINALS GAME 1 SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Assegai 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 1 0 8 14 1
WPasco 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 2 2 1 9 18 0
West Pasco leads 1-0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Az-cz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 12 0
Mlchma 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 6 0

Az-cz leads 1-0

And the NSWiki Page is here: http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Baseball_Classic

SEMIFINALS GAME 2 SCORES
(Don't mind the abbreviations, i'm sure you can figure out your team's name and results.)

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WPasco 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 3 9 17 1
Assegai 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 7 12 1

West Pasco wins series 2-0

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Mlchma 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 9 1
Az-cz 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 0

Az-cz wins series 2-0

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

AZ-CZ vs. WEST PASCO

Az-cz Scroll
Az-cz
Ya-Kyu

Az-cz outworks Milchama to advance to the finals

For the second game in a row the Robbers found just enough offense to squeeze by Milchama in a series that the warriors have to feel incredibly unlucky to have lost. With both games going to extra innings at 2-2 and ending with the Gnomes on top 3-2 the Gnomes continued their pattern of finding ways to get it done.

Schmidt took to the mound and immediately put the Gnomes in a hole. And I do mean immediately, as he served up an opening gopher ball to light hitting Kenny Merrick. He then proceeded to mow down the next three Milchama batters to get through the inning with just the single run.

And the Az-cz batters quickly erased that debt. Ich-Ro bunt singled to get aboard. Then he again showed his speed by swiping second. Ray Durham sac bunted him over to third and Br-Bnd hit a long fly to sac him home. The Gnomes once again turned a measly bunt into a run to even the game up.

Both pitchers then went into cruise control mowing down every batter they saw in the second and third innings. Schmidt gave up a leadoff double in the fourth but worked out of the jam and the Gnomes took their first lead of the game in the bottom half of the inning. After Durham struck out Br-Bnd walked aboard and Wl-My singled him over to second. Will Clark singled Br-Bnd home before Milchama wiggled out of the inning.

The fifth was another inning where both pitchers worked 1-2-3. Then in the sixth Milchama strung three hits together with two outs to even the game back up at 2-2. Schmidt pitched two more innings giving up a hit in the each but avoiding any serious problems.

Az-cz looked like they might end the game in the bottom of the ninth after starting the inning with two hits but failed to drive home the run. And Milchama looked like they might take the game over in the top of the tenth loading the bases with a single to start the inning then a single and a walk with one out, but Mat-Zk was able to induce a double play to end the inning. And the Gnomes made sure they would get the job done with the bottom of the order manufacturing a run. They started with a Mt-Wl single then Bn-Sntg proved a great eye by taking a walk on a full count. Hoz-Yrb moved the runners over and Mk-Cvy sacced home the winning run setting off a mad celebration at home plate.

The Gnomes now await the arrival of West Pasco a team they beat 7-2 in West Pasco and shutout 1-0 here in Az-cz. The Gnomes have been installed as strong favorites but West Pasco has suprised in the knockouts and could pull the upset here as well.

Championship Series Game 1 results will be up later tonite.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 1:

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WPasco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0
Az-cz 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 x 2 7 1

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 2:

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WPasco 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 0
Az-cz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1

Series tied 1-1

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 3:

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Az-cz 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 11 0
WPasco 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 2

Az-cz Leads 2-1

(ooc: this went to shit fast)

What went to shit fast? It's damaged cause I don't have proper time to RP and West Pasco in the finals is unfortunate. But I think it's gone well and I'm looking forward to another one. Hopefully someone (ESF?) will step up and run one.

What went to shit fast? It's damaged cause I don't have proper time to RP and West Pasco in the finals is unfortunate. But I think it's gone well and I'm looking forward to another one. Hopefully someone (ESF?) will step up and run one.

I think it is becuase an non-RPing entity made the finals, that it is so.

I re-scorinated the entire tourney, twice, (after getting the 2 finalists) and each time, somehow a non-RPing country made it to the finals (once it was Braveria vs. ESF and the 2nd one was Milchama vs. Cookesland) So possibly due to some weird calculation, it still would have wound up this way.

Hopefully, some one who hosts the 2nd edition of this will come up with a better way.

Overall though, I think i did a good job, i kept to the schedule as best as i could and had very few complaints.

OOC: I also think you did a good job. I was very pleased with the flow of the tournament. Like I say I'd like to have participated more, but nothing can be done. I also missed the summer olympics. Sometimes stuff just comes up.

Az-cz Scroll
West Pasco
Ya-Kyu

3-2, Az-cz's favorite score

Wow. Talk about a broken record. For the fifth time in the six victories Az-cz has accumulated in the knockout round they won by a score of 3-2. Add in the one time in the group round that Az-cz won by that score and 3-2 has truly been Az-cz's favorite set of numbers. This time the win moved them to just one win from the title. Hopefully they'll be able to avoid the 3-2 combo by finishing the series off next match against West Pasco but if they take the series by a tally of 3-2 they'll take it.

Once again the Gnomes proved their perfect sense of timing as they came through another extra innings battle. Kt-Rtr struggled in his one scheduled start of the finals allowing nine hits, but good defense and some lucky breaks, such as a ball that just went foul which could've been a three run homerun worked in his favor so that he allowed only 2 runs over seven innings. On the offensive side the Gnomes saw their first home run of the tournament after Ich-Ro singled in the fifth and Br-Bnd blasted him home.

Both bullpens pitched very well from that point, but after four runs of shutout ball for the West Pasco bullpen, Ich-Ro once again played catalyst. A walk, a steal, a squeeze over to third and a Br-Bnd sac fly were the medicine the doctor ordered to put the Gnomes over the top.

Now the team stands on the verge of an amazing accomplishment. It would be a great tribute to fundamental baseball for a team as devoid of power as these Gnomes are to bring home the world crown. They'll have one chance to do so in West Pasco and if that falls short a chance to clinch at home in front of the Pink & Green faithful.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 4:

SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Az-cz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 7 18 0
WPasco 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0

Az-cz Win Series 3-1

CONGRATS TO AZ-CZ

Winners of the 1st World Baseball Classic!

Final Standings (of the Quarterfinalists)
Az-cz 12-3 .800
West Pasco 8-6 .571
Kiryu-shi 5-4 .556
Assegai Developments 6-5 .545
Milchama 6-5 .545
Kampfers 4-4 .500
Elves Security Forces 4-5 .444
Qazox 4-5 .444

Az-cz Scroll
West Pasco
Ya-Kyu

Az-cz adds to growing legend as sporting power

Already having brought home a Baptism of Fire, a surfing and a water polo title, the Gnomes moved one single victory away from adding a baseball crown to the growing list of accolades the nation has acquired. And behind the arm of their ace Jason Schmidt and a late awakening of the bats the Gnomes are indeed champions.

West Pasco hit a leadoff homerun off Schmidt to start the game, but then were completely befuddled as he shut them out for three hits the rest of the match. As for the offense it took plenty of time to come together struggling for the first seven innings until Mk-Cvy, pinch hitting for Hoz-Yrb started a rally in the 8th that put the Gnomes ahead for good. Ich-Ro, Br-Bnd and Wl-My crossed the plate with Mk-Cvy in the eighth and that was all the Gnomes needed. They added three insurance runs in the ninth but West Pasco looked basically beaten and went down in order in the bottom of the ninth as Gnomes charged from the dugout celebrating on the home field of the West Pasconis.

Br-Bnd was named MVP of the tournament and the Gnomes were clearly the team of the tournament. With a great nose for victory the Pink & Green were worthy champions. Much thanks also goes to the nation of Qazox for organizing such a tournament.