NationStates Jolt Archive

The preliminary round group draw can be found at Post number 9 (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13549544&postcount=9).

Format:
Four groups of five teams. Each team plays the other teams in its group once. The top three teams per group qualify for the second group phase; the other eight teams move on to play for the Bowl Award.

Second group phase: Four groups of three teams. Each team plays the other teams in its group twice. Group winners qualify for the Cup Semi-finals. Remaining eight teams play for the Plate Award.

Cup semi finals: Best-of-three series
Cup final: Best-of-five series

In the two lesser tournaments, the Bowl and the Plate, the eight teams in each round play a straight (one-match) knockout round to determine the winners of the Bowl and the Plate.

I.E. Cup winner = champion; Plate winner = 5th place; Bowl winner = 13th place.

All matches are ICly played in Liventia. There is the DH rule at all matches in Liventia.

Estimated timeline (times GMT):
Group draw: 23 March
MD1: 25 March
MD2: 26 March
MD3: 27 March
MD4: 28 March
MD5: 29 March

Second phase and Bowl draw: 30 March

MD6/Bowl QF: 30 March
MD7: 1 April
MD8/Bowl SF: 2 April
MD9: 3 April
MD10/Bowl Final: 4 April
MD11: 5 April

Cup and Plate draw: 6 April

Cup SF Gm 1/Plate QF: 8 April
Cup SF Gm 2/Plate SF: 9 April
Cup SF Gm 3*/Plate Final: 10 April

Cup Final Gm 1: 11 April
Cup Final Gm 2: 12 April
Cup Final Gm 3: 13 April
Cup Final Gm 4*: 14 April
Cup Final Gm 5*: 15 April

*If necessary

(The OOC objective of the Plate and Bowl rounds is to ensure that teams are involved in the competition and RPing for as long as possible, to inject more RP in. It means that if you fail to qualify past the first group stage, you still have a reason to continue RPing and checking in here.)

Holy Marsh National Team Heads to Liventia

Karls Sans, MSN
Marsh City, Holy Marsh(MSN)- The Marsh National team left for Liventia earlier this morning. Most international observers predict the team will do rather poorly due to inexperience, but proponents of the national team point to an excellent pitching staff as a strong point that could surprise many.


Rotation:
1- RHP, Luis Ocasier. 6'2, 213.
The hard throwing right hander has racked up at least twenty wins in four straight years, and has averaged eighteen for his ten-year career. A great fastball and splitter is used in conjunction with a great curveball and a developing knuckleball.

2- RHP Samantha Casen. 5'8, 150.
The only female member of the team who led the league in ERA lst season at 1.92. Her fastball never reaches past the low 80s, but a great selection of slurves, cutters, and a sinker coupled with her great control makes her avaluable addition to the team.

3- LHP Timothy Tammers. 5'11, 200.
No one has ever done more with less. Hitting twenty wins four times in hie eight years, he has a blazing fastball and and a decent cutter. He has excellent control, but his lack of stuff worries some.

4- RHP, Lorenzo Alec. 6'3, 190.
A jack of all trades, master of one. A great slider has led to many great games in his fifteen years of professional ball, and he is coming off of a no-hitter against the St. Eversi Panthers- and staff ace Luis Ocasier- in the sixth game of the Marsh series.

5- LHP, John Berteri. 6'4, 240.
The youngest pitcher on the staff at twenty-two, Beteri has incredible potential. A high 90s fastball is joined by a good curveball and a developing sinker.

BULLPEN:
RHP, Jose Lecas. Middle reliever. 6'1, 225.
He doesn't have much in the way of stuff, but he has superb control and a good fastball.

LHP, Raedern Mascer, Middle Reliever. 6'4, 290.
The portly fellow of thirty has come off his best season yet, with an ERA of just 1.32. An excellent slider and knuckleball are used in conjunction with a cutter of around 90 MPH.

RHP, Alfonso Mekak. Long Reliever. 5'9, 190.
The young man of short height has shown his big heart. A superb fastball of around 100 MPH is used with a superb slurve. He can also play catcher and is the team's back-up, where he hit .255 with over eighty walks.

RHP, Niels Masser. Long reliever. 6'6, 280.
The elder statesman of the team. His long and stored carrer started him off as a starting pitcher. After a few years of running low on gas, he was switched to the bullpen where he became one of the league's best. Without having to worry about pitching for more than four innings at a time, he has rediscovered his fastball and has improved both his changeup and slider.

LHP, Alex Most. Long Reliever/Set-up man. 6'1, 210.
Holds the Akashi team record for scoreless innings by a relief pitcher with 56. Only gave up one home run last year. His stuff includes a slurve and a knuckleball, with a sinker coming in when needed. Elbow surgery three years ago left his fastball impotent, but now he has been pitching smarter.

RHP, Billy Oresain. Set-up man. 6'0, 215.
A grand fastball and a superb sinker are what this young man brings to the table, He is a one-inning wonder; his ERA when he pitches one inning in a game is 0.51, when he pitches two ore more it jumps up to 6.54.

RHP, Rickey Mullondah. Closer. 6'3, 230.
His control? Second to none. His fastball? Deceptively fast and with a good cut. His slurve and sinker? Excellent. Holds the league record for consecutive save chances converted at 112.



***********************
1- SS, Paul Williams. Switch. 5'9, 180.
Batting .345 and leading the nation in both steals and triples, Paul Williams is almost inarguably the best lead-off man in the history of the nation. He is a solid glove who doesn't make great plays nor silly mistakes.

2- LF, Shane Lorn. Left-handed. 5'11, 190.
Batting .380 and leading the nation in doubles, Shane is held back only by his only average speed for a two-slot. His ability in the field is beyond question.

3- 3B, Ryan Marienlund. Right handed. 6'2, 235.
A good fielder, his .330 batting average and 39 home runs are aided by his league-tying 150 RBIs.He is a solid fielder.

4- DH, Stan Casen. Switch. 6'1, 220.
At only twenty-seven, Stan Casen's luck seems to extend beyond sharing the first name of the Holy Marsh. His batting average is "only" .290, but he has hit 50+ home runs in four straight years.

5- CF, Taylor Derscon. Right. 6'0, 205.
An excellent fielder, his average and power are quite good, if not great, at .302 and 30 respectively. He is rather speedy for a fifth-slot, and is considered a great all-around player.

6- RF, Raul Escher. Right. 5'11, 190.
A good fielder, his .290 average and 28 home runs is aided by good speed.

7- 2B, Kenny Saser. Left. 6'1, 215.
A good fielder, his batting average is only .269, but when he does connect, the ball tends to go very, very far.

8- C, Eric Tasharn. Right. 5'11, 189.
The oldest player on the team at fourty, he is the smartest player as well with an IQ hovering around 175. His batting average is .289 for his lifetime, and is a great clutch hitter. Has won fourteen straight gold gloves

9- 1B, Kyle Morris. Switch. 6'4, 210.
Considered to be one of the best developing hitters in the nation, his average rose from .203 three years ago to .300 the year previous. He does not have much power nor is he speedy, but he plays smart. He is a perennial gold glove candidate.

BENCH:

C, Alfonso Mekak, 5'9, 190. Switch.
While he only bats .255, he is a smart batter and a great fielder. Is a relief pitcher the majority of the time.

IF, Aleis Moore. 6'3, 240. Right.
Playing either third or first base, Aleis is a superb hitter but a poor fielder. While he did not lead the league in errors any of the previous seven seasons, he has lead the division he was in at his position. Batting wise, however, he is great; .300 average and 25 home runs a year with many doubles, and hs is quite fast for a large man.

IF, Gerard Frederick. 5'11, 190. Left.
Secondbase or shortstop is where he plays. A good hitter and a great fielder, he is an excellent back-up.

OF, Yavin McCorn. 6'1, 180. Switch.
Incredibly fast and a great fielder, Yavin is held back only because the other outfielders are better hitters. He hits about .290, but only two home runs.

OF, Paulus Eresa. 5'10, 205. Left.
Somewhat fast and a decent fielder, Paulus usually plays centerfield or rightfield. Hits about .305, but haverages only eleven home runs a year.
*Will add bullpen and bench later.*

Fans have for the bold and the brave few out of taeshan to grip th world of baseball. The purple knights baseball team is one of the most prestigous baseball teams in the world. Thes men proud to where the royal purple of there country play with grace no0 man in the world wishes to play at. They are an expected finals team, but they've never made it that far. Still every schoolboy in the proud Taeshani homeland looks up to them, just like a boy looks up to his father.
The Taeshan Purple knights Baseball association proudly presents for the 6th World Baseball Classic the unsumountable Knights
The Starting Rotation
LHP Anthony Rielas #1 22- Knuckleball, Curveball, Slider
LHP Zeke Peters #3 23-Slider, 2 seamer, 4 seamer, Changeup, Palmball
RHP Rian Willemson #7 25-Slider, Changeup, 4 seamer, Curveball
RHP Coi Vecxen #90 21-Curveball, Slider, Palmball, Knucleball

Bullpen
LHP Victor Frun #45 32-Curve, Slider, 4 Seamer, 2 Seamer
LHP Goeli Hans #78 33-4 Seamer, Slider, Palmball, Curveball, Changeup
RHP Ohmegode Frede #92 22-Curveball, 4 Seamer, Changeup, Slider(Closer)

Starting 9
C Freddy Myers #12 32
1B Tadihito Shakiri #2 24
2B Zoey Menigen #22 36
3B Zi Zo #8 32
SS Flean Diageo #46 35
LF Fier Henris #66 29
CF Riane Totalez #24 22
RF Socki Lewis #14 18

Bench
IF Sol Jeeves #49 26
IF Yeckers Flederichi #78 22
IF Jose Deigo #34 23
OF Jay Nedved #29 22
OF Zack Segovis #68 35
OF Jacklyn Peters #83 27
OF Joel Myers #41 25
OF Xavier Dendes #93 24

Manager Johny Nashille
Pitching Coach God Aghful(former Player)

Home games all purple jerseys, Away games golden tops and purple Pants, Blue numbers and names

Style Modifier- 1 above lowest
We don't do DH The pitcher shall be considered as Dhing for himself

Fans have for the bold and the brave few out of taeshan to grip the world of baseball. The purple knights baseball team is one of the most prestigous baseball teams in the world. Thes men proud to where the royal purple of there country play with grace no man in the world wishes to play at. They are an expected finals team, but they've never made it that far. Still every schoolboy in the proud Taeshani homeland looks up to them, just like a boy looks up to his father.
The Taeshan Purple knights Baseball association proudly presents for the 6th World Baseball Classic the unsurmountable Knights
The Starting Rotation
LHP Anthony Rielas #1 22- Knuckleball, Curveball, Slider
LHP Zeke Peters #3 23-Slider, 2 seamer, 4 seamer, Changeup, Palmball
RHP Rian Willemson #7 25-Slider, Changeup, 4 seamer, Curveball
RHP Coi Vecxen #90 21-Curveball, Slider, Palmball, Knucleball

Bullpen
LHP Victor Frun #45 32-Curve, Slider, 4 Seamer, 2 Seamer
LHP Goeli Hans #78 33-4 Seamer, Slider, Palmball, Curveball, Changeup
RHP Ohmegode Frede #92 22-Curveball, 4 Seamer, Changeup, Slider(Closer)

Starting 9
C Freddy Myers #12 32
1B Tadihito Shakiri #2 24
2B Zoey Menigen #22 36
3B Zi Zo #8 32
SS Flean Diageo #46 35
LF Fier Henris #66 29
CF Riane Totalez #24 22
RF Socki Lewis #14 18

Bench
IF Sol Jeeves #49 26
IF Yeckers Flederichi #78 22
IF Jose Deigo #34 23
OF Jay Nedved #29 22
OF Zack Segovis #68 35
OF Jacklyn Peters #83 27
OF Joel Myers #41 25
OF Xavier Dendes #93 24

Manager Johny Nashille
Pitching Coach God Aghful(former Player)

Home games all purple jerseys, Away games golden tops and purple Pants, Blue numbers and names

Style Modifier- 1 above lowest
We don't do DH The pitcher shall be considered as Dhing for himself

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

Sports Section

3 Peat?

That's the question on everybody's mind in Milchama after our beloved baseball team has won two in a row. With an unchanged roster from last cup's winning team we fully expect to do very well if not run away with the whole cup for the 3rd straight time. Manager Kelly Hegeboom said, "We're ready, we know everybody will be gunning for us but we managed to beat them once before and these kids are quite experienced. We shall come out victorious."

Outfielders:
8 Kelton Holland LF
21 Felix Sorano
17 Thomas Pfenint
23 Eric Sidelman CF
18 AJ Hunter RF
19 Ugaday Chinggist DH

Infielders:
16 Emily O'Neil 1B
14 Garrett Raritt 3B
5 Tanner Holmes
7 Marius Remant 2B
10 Endy Gonzalez SS
14 Moralis Houston

Catchers:
1 Everett Ulsan
2 Damien Hermes C
99 Wr-Ior
52 Kny-Mrrk

Starters:
15 Ferris Banner- Hard throwing pitcher with a good curveball and a plus slider. Known particularly for how good he is at changing speeds.
12 Greg Claymont- Doesn't have an overpowering fastball but has a wicked 12-6 curveball and a great assortment of random pitches that we don't even know the names of to get hitters out. Also very good at out thinking hitters.
6 Henry Remteyn- The most imposing looking pitcher of the starters actually has the worst pure stuff. He is always approximately 10 steps ahead of hitters and gets them out through pure thinking ability.
00 Jonah David- The most Jewish name on the team complete with the most eccentric personality in the game. However, as a pitcher his 95+ MPH fastball complete with devastating changeup that can go anywhere from 88 to 70 make him a force to reckoned with. To hear more about his personality either go to our website or wait for one of his starts as we will give you a story a day.

Bullpen:
25 Ole' Gomez- Where he got the nickname nobody knows but he's good. Great fastball, wicked curve, no endurance made him a reliever.
13 Oleg Channuck- Nasty screwball and knuckleball. Weird pitch selection. Second oddest player on the team.
19 Thomos Alem- Submariner gets people because they really just can't see the pitch until it's right at them. Nobody is quite sure what he throws.
1 Edgar Allen- A poet and a man with a great sense of touch on his curveball. He really only has two pitches but his curveball breaks in 5 different ways so it doesn't matter.
3 Stephenie Wyatt- Screwballer.

Starting Lineup w/o DH:
23 Eric Sidelman CF- Fast, good contact hitter. Typical Milchamian leadoff man.
8 Kelton Holland LF Fast, not as good of a contact hitter but a great power hitter.
16 Emily O'Neil 1B- Consensus best hitter Milchama has ever produced. Hits for average and power. Won 2 straight triple crows in the MBL along with leading the league every year in OPS and OPS+ since her second year in the league.
2 Damien Hermes C- Very good hitting catcher. Hits homers with surprising ease. Not particularly fast but is also very sound fundamentally.
18 AJ Hunter RF - A lot like Felix Sorano, a 5 tool player and though he hasn't reached his potential quite yet he can mash. 2 straight 30-30 seasons got him on the team.
14 Garrett Raritt 3B- Only survivor to start from the legendary WBC winning team. A little power and a little speed. Just a great gloveman. Good all around player.
7 Marius Remant 2B- Great gloveman. Not as much known for his hitting but actually hits in the .290 level which is pathetic for this squad. Not so much in general though.
<Insert Pitcher Here>- Hegaboom used this to great effect in the MBL and now brings the pitcher hitting 8th to the international level.
10 Endy Gonzalez SS- On the team for his mitt more than his stick. Though he did hit 20 HRs last year. Fluke season though.

Starting Lineup w/DH:
23 Eric Sidelman CF
8 Kelton Holland LF
16 Emily O'Neil 1B
19 Ugaday Chinggist DH- Slow, lumbering, hits 50 HRs every year with a .385 OBP. A great hitter.
2 Damien Hermes C
18 AJ Hunter RF
14 Garrett Raritt 3B
7 Marius Remant 2B
10 Endy Gonzalez SS

Notes:
-Both starters and bullpens go top down.
- Milchamian starters consider it a disgrace to be taken out before the 8th inning.
- If styles exist we're a zero.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen, it's 11:00."

"Sports update now, well, baseball anyhow. No, the Cubs haven't pulled out of the second division-ever since the record book closed the BUBL's stopped. And they're called the Capital Cubs now, with the name change, Zebras is reserved for the national team. Who'll be competing in the next World Baseball Classic in Liv-entia. I think."

"The pitch from Amadeo, and O'Neil connects. Driven far and deep-it's over the fence. Milchama wins on a walk-off home run from Emily O'Neil."

"A heartbreaking tenth-inning defeat last time around, but let's not forget that was Zwangzug's greatest-ever accomplishment, for a team that's been here since the beginning. Plus or minus. With the Red-Tails still the defending champions, of course, Reynolds returns to manage the national team, not too much turnover from last tournament. Big change is Eric Steen moving into the starting lineup, McGuffin the ace now. They've got the DH out here, that'll be Ollie Jingle. Zwangzug will be the lowest-ranked first seed*, hopefully progressing to play for the Cup and not losing in the first round to go to the Bowl."

"The plate I get, like home, but what do bowls and cups have to do with baseball?"

"Cups? You don't even want to-who are you, and what are you doing in my broadcast booth?"

"I'm your color commentator!"

"You? I bet you don't even know which way first base-er-never mind-we were discussing the format. How is this going to work into the rankings?"

"I don't know, you'll have to ask the people in charge."

"Last time I checked, we were in charge. But then again, the last time I checked, you weren't here."

"A little political correctness never hurt."

"A lot probably has. Hiring someone who doesn't know anything about baseball might too."

"It's not like Zwangzug has ever had radiocasters lasting more than one Classic."

"No. It isn't. And I don't think we'll be the first."

Starting Rotation:

#25, Charles McGuffin (Red-Tails)
#8, Alexei Shiomi (Worms)
#13, Al Summers (Grey Socks)
#26, Veasna Blago (Aurora)

Bullpen:
#4, Colin Gutenberg (long relief) (Mustangs)
#22, Dave Clinton (long relief) (Gray Sox)
#10, Max Frederickson (long relief) (Red-Tails)
#7, Larry Chicago (middle relief) (Oysters)
#53, Isaac Slova (middle relief) (Grey Socks)
#19, Mitt Amadeo (middle relief) (Aurora)
#29, Russell Coleman (middle relief) (Cubs)
#28, Tobias Utopia (closer) (Cubs)

Starting Lineup:
#1, Pete Li, shortstop (Oysters)
#7, Bianca Thiesen, second base (Cubs)
#18, Eric Steen, catcher (Aurora)
#2, Konrad Rubin, left field (Worms)
#17, Klaus Rifkin, center field (Oysters)
#21, Zeke Fallopian, first base (Red-Tails)
#20, Ollie Jingle, DH (Mustangs)
#9, Clint Barry, right field (Gray Sox)
#14, Aaron Mombota, third base (Worms)

Bench:
#6, Johann Longbottom, infield (Mustangs)
#3, Rose Hanover, infield (Red-Tails)
#43, Valerie Dvorak, outfield (Red-Tails)
#27, Grover Funct, outfield (Grey Socks)

*OOC edit-IC mistake corresponding to OOC cluelessness, sorry about that.

((OOC: Don’t know much about baseball))

The Indonesian States National Baseball Federation

National Stadium
Merdeka Field
Cap. 30,000

The Indonesian States National Baseball Federation is barely past its first year, but it is continuing to grow and gain popularity. There are no Club Teams, so these players are trying to find a good club in other nations. These men, nicknames the Tigers, are very fast, both in base running and pitching. However, they are not too strong. Not many men make homeruns, but many steal bases regularly, as if it was a second nature. The few players with good strength are the Dutch players. This team is new, so they don't expect to go past the first round.

National Team Rosters
PITCHERS
• RHP Jonathan Huber – Possibly the best pitcher in the Indonesian States. His best pitch is his Curveball.
• LHP Abdul bin Youssef – The only Left Handed Pitcher in the national team, that is why he is so important.
• RHP Bambang Primawajaya – An average pitcher, he has a pretty fast fastball (95 mph). He is the youngest player in the team, only 15 years old.
• RHP Rocky Bampiyay – This man has a foot unjury, but what will that do to stop him from pitching? His Sliders are excellent.
• RHP Tangan Panas – He is very special due to his ability to use special pitches such as the knuckleball and sinker. Unfortunatly, he has a low stamina
INFIELD
• 1st BASE Ridwan Dirham – This man has the second-highest stealing average in training matches; however, his hitting is not so impressive.
• 2nd BASE Manny Manchope – This guy is the most average on the team, regular speed, regular power.
• 3rd BASE Alice Garujali – She is one of two female players on the team. Famous for standing up against the former team’s manager, who had a reputation for discrimination. She asked him “iz you racist ‘cauze I iz a gurl?” This sentence became used across the Indonesian States and still is.
• SHORTSTOP Trent Vingt – Arguably the best player in the whole team. He is both great in hitting power (getting the most home runs) and speed (a famous incident happened when he hit the ball at the pitcher; when the pitcher was ready to throw at first base, Vingt was already half-way towards second base. He got out, but it proved how fast he was)
• CATCHER Cheng He Li – This man is the oldest in the whole team, at 47 years. He easily gets mad, and likes to start fights. He is an average hitter, but has a strong arm when throwing.

OUTFIELD
• LEFT FIELD Mi Jung Li – She is the other woman in the team, and is the daughter of Cheng He Li. She can throw the ball very far, but is an average hitter, just like her father. A difference between them is that Mi is very fast.
• CENTER FIELD Raden Agus Supirman – This man is great at catching fly balls, which should be easy for an outfielder. He can also catch a ball in the (sandy area by the wall? Whatever that is)
• RIGHT FIELD Indra Sukarnoputro – He is new to the team, so not that much information is known.

The Qazox Pheonix finally have a new roster after using the same 23 players for the first 10 years of the WBC, in which they failed to win any of the titles.

Manager: Adam Victorini

Starting Lineup

1) CF: Brian Pippen Bats: R; Throws: R- A classic lead off hitter. Won't hit many Homeruns, but will steal at least one or bases a game. Doesn't draw many walks. Decent fielder, with excellent range, but a spotty arm.

2) 1B: Lonnie Redman Bats: L; Throws: L- Overall the best hitter on the team, but has the porest glove. Hits to all fields and has just enough speed to turn some singles into doubles. Gets subbed for in late innings for defensive purposes.

3) C: David Liber Bats R; Throws: R- Classic power hitter, strikesout frequently, however. Adequate arm, throws out about 25% of steal attampts. Crushes lefties.

4) RF: Carver Thompson Bats: S; Throws: R Very dangerous hitter, hits both righties and lefties with equal regularity. Not a deep-ball threat, but if there are runners on base, they score. Powerful arm, but erratic accuracy.

5) 3B: David Riggs Bats: L; Throws: R Excellent defensive player, makes very few errors. Streaky at the plate, but when hot, can hit it anywhere. Has decent power.

6) 2B: Pascual Benjamin Bats: S; Throws: L Best glove on the team, and has decent pop in the bat. But has knee problems and is inconsistent at the plate.

7) DH: Gregory Felde Bats: R; Throws: R Just like Redman, has a great bat, but poor glove. Not much power, but has a great batting eye and will walk frequently.

8) SS: Vance Taresi Bats: L; Throws: L Overall a decent player, but not great at any one aspect of play. Gets hit by pitches a lot, due to unusual stance at the plate.

9) LF: Lucas Morgan Bats: R; Throws: R Should bat higher in the order, but has tenendcy to strike out alot. Has excellent speed and a cannon for an arm, don't try to score from 2nd on him.

BENCH:
C: Frank Carre
1B: Oliver Yardley
2B/SS: Thomas Daevis
OF: Jason Washington
OF: Joseph Mason
INF: Kyle Tersely

PITCHERS:
STARTING ROTATION:
Samuel Ridge: (Throws: L) Has great 3 pitches, a 97-mph fastball, a 12-6 Slider and a nasty Circle Change. Does throw a split-finger fastball, but it tends to get hit hard.

Brian Meggars: (Throws: R) Has 2 good pitches and 2 decent ones. A 95-mph splitter, and a 10-4 curve that falls away from righties. The other pitches are a 93-mph fastball that tends to rise and a Knuckle-Curve that does neither.

Stan Forde: (Throws: R) Has a great Changeup and a decent 95-mph fastball, but not much else. Throws a lazy curve that often gets hit far.

Micheal Nieves: (Throws: L) Has a Knuckleball that is almost impossible to hit, unless it does. Also throws a 89-mph fastball and a Circle Change that does tend to drift in on lefties.

BULLPEN:
LHP: James Thurston
LHP: Fred Davis
RHP: Hector Ortega
RHP: Brandon Ericsen

Closer: Tyrone Pitts (Throws: R) Has a fastball that has been clocked at 101 mph. Also has a 94-mph slider that breaks away from lefties. Can throw a Forkball, but only if there are runners on and he needs a ground ball out.

Group Draw

Group A
Corneliu (2)
Zwangzug (5)
Lovisa (12)
Holy Marsh (UNR)
The Indonesian States (UNR)

Group B
Milchama (1)
Qazox (6)
Quakmybush (10)
North Alskboz (UNR)
Hjela-Artouusa (UNR)

Group C
Az-cz (4)
Liventia (7)
Mallatarsland (9)
Xaristan (UNR)
Detroit-Madison States (UNR)

Group D
Taeshan (3)
Yafor 2 (8)
Prux (11)
HaMedinat Yisrael (UNR)
Cripistan (UNR)

MD1: 1v5, 2v4, 3 bye
MD2: 1v3, 2v5, 4 bye
MD3: 2v3, 4v5, 1 bye
MD4: 1v2, 3v4, 5 bye
MD5: 1v4, 3v5, 2 bye

Groups A and C will play all their matches in Shocker Stadium, Orean.
Groups B and D will play all their matches in the ThunderDome, also in Oreaan.

Liventia national baseball team

Starting Lineup (B/T) v. LHP w/ DH
SS. Jonas Cable (R/R)
1B. Cortez Rosenstiehl (L/L)
3B. Grant Pittman (R/R)
DH. Danilo Seidner (R)
RF. Clay Easter (L/R)
C. Todd Allshouse (S/R)
LF. Douglas Shafer (L/L)
CF. Chung Rohtin (S/L)
2B. Jarvis Wells (L/L)

Starting Lineup (B) v. RHP w/ DH
SS. Jonas Cable (R)
1B. Cortez Rosenstiehl (L)
LF. Douglas Shafer (L)
3B. Grant Pittman (R)
CF. Chung Rohtin (S)
DH. Danilo Seidner (R)
RF. Clay Easter (L)
C. Todd Allshouse (S)
2B. Jarvis Wells (L)

Backup position players (Pos/B/T)
Pierre Mackendoer (IF/L/L)
Brent Judge (LF/R/R)
Andrew Johnstone (C/S/R)
Damion Trevithick (Util/R/L)

Pitching staff (B/T/pitches)
Starting rotation
1. Michael Taylor (L/L/4-seam FB, slider, splitter, cutter)
2. David Kieferfer (R/R/knuckleball, curveball, 4-seam FB, changeup)
3. Stephen Wegley (R/R/screwball, changeup, 4-seam FB, sinker)
4. Darren Shupert (S/L/4-seam FB, slider, changeup, cutter)
5. Ted Schaeffer (R/R/4-seam FB, curveball, slider)
Relief pitching
Julian Brenstein (LRP/R/R/4-seam FB, curveball, cutter)
Nicky James (MRP/L/L/4-seam FB, 2-seam FB, knucklecurve)
Wilford McMichaels (MRP/R/R/4-seam FB, splitter, slurve, circle change)
Rory Billimek (SU/R/R/4-seam FB, sinker, slider)
Terrence Orbell (CP/R/R/4-seam FB, curveball, changeup, splitter)

When RPing, if you RP first, please follow my rotation. You may choose relief pitchers (sensibly, I don't want my closer coming in in the sixth), and how I score. Ejections are fine.

Today the national baseball council in Liventia announced the groups for the 6th World Baseball Classic. The valiant Purple Knight's look to have the easiest group of the four. With yafor 2 and prux the only substantial oppo0nets. Though the knight's do have two up and coming new teams in there group this year, Cripistan, and the team from HaMedinat Yisrael.
The top twelve baseball playing nations have entered this Classic. With eight new teams in this void to fill the 16 team tournament. This seems to be the cup with the least interest in the 4 years the knights have played baseball, but it will prove to be one of the hardest yet. Matbe the national team can finally win the championship this year, but with the strongholds of Corneliu and Milchama still in the endless battle the knight's pleas seem hopeless.
By Some Homeless dude

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and the group draw for the 6th WBC in Liventia took place earlier today and the Pheonix, somehow ranked 6th in the lastest Zwangzug rankings, are the second seed in group B. Also placed in Group B is two-time defending champions, Milchama, 10th ranked Quakmybush, and newcomers North Alskboz and Hjela-Artouusa. Joining me now is our Baseball expert, Paul Gammons. Paul, what do you think of the Pheonix' draw in the WBC?"

"Rob, I think that the draw couldn't have gone better. We avoided Az-cz, Corneliu, and Zwangzug for the first time in while and Quakmybush has underperformed in the WBC as of late. I believe Qazox will advance to the second round of qualifying."

"Paul, who will be the key to Qazox' success this time around?"

"David Riggs, if he gets hot and stays hot, the Pheonix will score quite a bit of runs, something that has not been the strong suit of late. On the pitching side of things, if Brian Meggars can keep his fastball low and doesn't lose his concentration, he and Ridge make a powerful 1-2 combo and that could take this team deep into the tourney."

"Thank you Paul. A quick commercial break, and we'll breakdown the schedule."

<COMMERCIAL BREAK>

"Welcome back to WBC Today and here now to break down the Phoenix' schedule, is Tom Kurtjin. Tom, the schedule seemingly is set up for Qazox to be 3-0 before they have a showdwon with Milchama on the 4th day, any chance of a slip up before then?"

"Not really, Rob. With the first two games against the newcomers, North Alskboz and Hjela-Artouusa, against Ridge and Meggars, should be easy enough, but against Quakmybush, Forde is scheduled and he might struggle a bit. I think Adam Victorini might use Forde against Hjela-Artouusa and save Meggars for Quakmybush, who he matches up better with."

"For Milchama, Micheal Nieves is scheduled. Any chance that Victorini might pitch Ridge on two-days rest, if a win is needed?"

"I doubt it, but I wouldn't put it past Victorini. He's more proactive than the previous coach and isn't afraid to shake things up if needed."

"So how do you see the Pheonix finishing?"

"3-1, with a close loss to Milchama in the fourth game. But anything past the second round, I don't think they got the pitching to keep up with the Zwangzug's and Corneliu's of the world. They'll play in the Plate bracket and probably win the plate, finishing 5th."

"Well that's all for now people, Join us on Tommorrow, for a full WBC breakdown. For Paul Gammons and Tom Kurtjin, I'm Rob Costas."

The Prux Power come back to beat others down for a change. But we probably won't.

Batters
SS: Goode N. Plenty
C: Mike N. Ike
RF: Baby Ruth
DH: Mr. Goodbar
LF: Clark Barr
3B: Heath Barr
CF: O. H. Henry
1B: Tob Lerone
2B: Whatchamacallit

Pitchers
SP: Ace Spade
SP: Ace Club
SP: Ace Diamond
RP: Jack Diamond
RP: Jack Spade
RP: Jack Hart
RP: Jack Club
CP: Ace Hart

Backups
OF: Jack O' Lantern
INF: Frank N. Furter

ISEC NEWS
The Best English News in the Indonesian States

Today, the Indonesian States Baseball team - nicknamed the Tigers - are to play against Corneliu. Corneliu has the second highest ranking in world baseball. When Manager Chip Handuk heard they were playing Corneliu, this is what he had to say: "Well, we're probably gonna get our butts kicked, but we'll at least try to get some runs in."

MARSH SPORTS NEWS

The camera pans to Shocker Stadium, which is slowly filling up for the opening games of the WBC. The Marsh National Team logo, the same as the national one, flashes onscreen.
"Welcome viewers to the beautiful nation of Liventia, in the city of Orean. The Holy Marsh has surely blessed this area with great beauty, and the superb treatment we have had by the locals surely is a sign most heartwarming. Today, the Marsh National Team takes on fifth ranked Zwangzug in their first international match." The broadcaster says to hushed crowds around the country.
They were in the midst of a DEFCON-2 situation, and sports would provide the government with a cheap way to entertain the populace who wasn't preparing for war or working. Baseball stadiums across the nation were packed, including the stadium that belonged to the Marsh City God-Hands that could seat 105,000, making it the largest baseball stadium in the nation. Watching on large screens as well as smaller screens that were found on home television, millions upon millions of viewers started to settle down to watch the game.
The announcer continued going on about facts about the Zwangzug team, and him also gushing on and on about the Holy Marsh blessing Liventia with grand weather.

TIS SPORTS

http://bp3.blogger.com/_TN0JiMROeMk/Rp1zMGPooNI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/6FyMFEDrJ-A/s1600-h/supporter.png
Indonesian fans cheering on their home team in Liventia

"The Tiger's have been warming up, and fans are entering Shocker Stadium, in Liventia's capital city. Suprisingly, many Indonesians have made the trek to Liventia to watch the new team play. The Tiger's fans, clad in red and white with orange stripes, cheer on the Indonesian National Team."

"That's right, as we have this areil view of the stadium, there are many red and white baseball fans, but much, much more Corneliu fans."

"No surprise there, Corneliu is the second-highest rank in the Baseball World! And that comes to our predictions. Well, our tigers, unfortunatly, are planned to lose 8-2 in their first game of the season. But that's our prediction"

"You poll-takers at indosport.com voted that Indonesia will lose, but only by one point."

"Well, there's only one way to find out, and that's to watch the game! And now to a commercial break."

The Federation Times
Section X: Sports

Once again, Xaristan is rising from the ashes and making their appearance back on the world stage. This time, it is in the cherished Xaristan sport of baseball. Though Xaristan is technically unranked, they carry over much of the same team that was the Cinderella story of Ambrose-Douglas' last WBC, a team that went 8-3 before finally bowing out. In fact, although the war decimated the entire nation, only a few of the players were killed, and those that were have been replaced by some exciting new talent. The team is listed below.

The players lost in the war were: Carson Isnaris (#31, RF), Henry Samuelson (#48, C), Andrew Karlson (#17, 3B), Franklin Egon (#38, SP), Justin Powell (#27, SP), Alan Earlson (#41, RP)

Coach: Harold Belfour
Assistant Coaches: Joseph Templeton, Gregory Uuser

Starters (By number):
#1 CF Davis, Usar - Davis is a returning member to the team. He was tied for third on the team in doubles last time around, and led the team in stolen bases. He batted .283 with a .304 OBP, smacking 1 HR and 3 RBI in 46 at-bats.
#4 RF Verian, Pat - Verian is an 18 year old rookie stepping in after the death of Carson Isnaris. He has large shoes to fill as Isnaris had gone .462 with a .538 OBP. Verian is described as a quick, small-ball player, with excellent range and a strong arm in right field.
#7 2B Farthington, Jacob - Farthington is a veteran of the last WBC, where he batted .381 with a .405 OPB. He played flawless baseball at second base and looks to continue that this year.
#8 SS Bruce, Victor - Bruce is another veteran, batting .317 with a .405 OPB. He compliments the Raiders' exceptional speed in the infield and at the top of their line-up, contributing well to their small-ball attitude.
#13 1B Isnaris, Benjamin - Benjamin lost his younger brother in the war, and will wear a black armband over his left arm all Classic long in memoriam. He was the team's most prolific hitter last WBC, hitting a staggering .571 with a .619 OBP, while hitting 6 HR in 11 games with 17 RBIs. He will have to pick up the slack in the Raiders' power game, as the only other power threat is untested at this level.
#22 LF Templeton, Brock - Another veteran and small ball hitter for the Raiders, Templeton shows great range in left field while holding his own at the plate, hitting a respectable .277 at the plate.
#23 3B Oran, Jimmy - Another fresh face on the WBC stage, Oran is a rarity in a 19 year old that is not only playing 3B, but also a significant power threat. It will be interesting to see if he can compliment Isnaris in the power game and the rest of this small ball hitting team as well.
#29 DH Xerxes, Cameron - The Raiders DH is returning for a second go-around, happy in the knowledge this time that he will be in every game. In the last Classic, Xerxes went 7 of 25 for a .280 batting average with one RBI.
#42 C Bergan, Howie - Bergan filled in last WBC for Henry Samuelson, who was killed during the war. Bergan did see a little action, going 2 for 4 with an RBI in limited action. He is rumored to have bulked up and might be an added power threat, but we will have to wait and see.

Field Reserves (By Number):
#5 OF Reeton, Jamie - Reeton did not see action in the first WBC, but is rumored to be a base stealing specialist... he just has problems getting on base.
#11 OF Legor, Patrick - Saw limited action in the last WBC, and struck out twice in four at bats, and never reached base. His spot could be in danger if he does not show improvement.
#37 C/1B Foalson, Garry - 18 year old phenom, could replace Bergan should he struggle. Coaches are very high on his talent. Also a backup for Isnaris should the Ironman get injured.
#51 IF Nolan, Mike - Never saw an at-bat in the first WBC. Rumored to have problems with his glove.
#77 IF Veral, Nick - Excellent glove but limited range and hitting ability keep Veral riding the pine. He hopes to have a chance to prove himself this time around.

Pitching Staff (By Spot):
Starters: #3 David Rolland (L), #19 Peter Hampton (R), #21 Will Powers (L), #45 Charlie Donnelly (R), #80 Vince Dredor (R) - This staff lost two players to the war, Franklin Egon and Justin Powell, their #2 and #4 starters. Donnelly and Dredor step in as 18 and 19 year olds respectively to fill their shoes. Powers is coming off a spectacular WBC, with a 2.21 ERA. Rolland and Hampton need to work harder after their ERAs were almost 12 and 7, respectively.
Relievers: #0 Chris Togan (MR, R), #10 Greg Olson (LR, R), #16 Edward Gigante (MR, R), #32 Randy Yugnes (MR, R), #40 Stanley Parsons (LR, L), #55 Steve Hasselton (MR, R), #71 Zoltan Loassr (SU, R), #81 Will Jacobson (MR, L), #99 Danny Tartarus (CP, R) - The only new face to this squad is Will Jacobson, who is best friends with starting pitcher Dredor. Loassr and Tartarus look to continue their near lights-out 1-2 punch at the end of the game, while the rest of the squad, minus Parsons who was perfect last WBC, looks to step up their game, especially with two young pitchers now starting.

Analysis of the Group
Xaristan seems to have the hardest draw, being in the only group with three teams inside the Top 10 in world ranking inside it. However, they look to continue the magical success of their predecessors and make it out of pool play and into the semi-finals again. However, despite a very similar team, don't look for the Raiders to make it out against tough opponents such as Az-cz and Liventa.

Starting Rotation
#21 Will Powers (Lefty)
#19 Peter Hampton (Righty)
#80 Vince Dredor (Righty)
#45 Charlie Donnelly (Righty)
#3 David Rolland (Lefty)

Starting Lineup vs. Lefty
1. #4 Pat Verian RF
2. #1 Usar Davis CF
3. #8 Victor Bruce SS
4. #23 Jimmy Oran 3B
5. #13 Benjamin Isnaris 1B
6. #42 Howie Bergan C
7. #7 Jacob Farthington 2B
8. #29 Cameron Xerxes DH
9. #22 Brock Templeton LF

Starting Lineup vs Righty
1. #1 Usar Davis CF
2.#7 Jacob Farthington 2B
3. #23 Jimmy Oran 3B
4. #13 Benjamin Isnaris 1B
5. #29 Cameron Xerxes DH
6. #42 Howie Bergan C
7. #22 Brock Templeton LF
8. #8 Victor Bruce SS
9. #4 Pat Verian RF

Please follow my rotation. I usually do a very detailed RP, but I'll meld mine into yours if you RP first.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and Joining me are Juan Krik and Paul gammons. This is the all important Preview show, so let's get right down to it. Group A. On paper, the toughest of the four groups. Paul, who do you see coming out that group?"

"Rob, Zwangzug and Corneliu have had rather dissapointing runs in the last couple of WBC's, each losing to Milchama, But in this group niether should ahve a hard time advancing to the second round. Corneliu is a bit better overall and should go 4-0, while Zwangzug goes 3-1. As for Lovisa, a 2-2 record with close losses to Corneliu and Zwangzug sees them into the second round as well. As for Holy Marsh and The Indonesian States one of them will finish 1-3, while the other goes 0-4. I'm leaning towards TIS for 4th in this group."

"Going with the chalk there, huh Paul?" Now Juan, In Group C, we have the hosts, Liventia and the 3-time WBC champs Az-cz. Is ther any chance that one of the other three teams could knock them off?"

"Rob, if any team is going to win Group C, it will be Liventia, they've upgraded their style of play and are my dark horse pick to make it to the Semifinals. Az-cz has been stuck in 3rd gear the last couple of tourneys and they may be upset by Mallatarsland, but in the end Liventia and Az-cz go through on identical 3-1 records, while Mallatarsland goes through at 2-2, getting upset by Xaristan, who finishes tied with DMS at 1-3."

"Thank you for that insight, Juan. Now unto group D, where taeshan, the Chicago Cubs of the WBC reside, along with Prux and ever dangerous Yafor 2. Who wins that group, Paul?"

"Any of the top three seeds can, and I think that Yafor 2 has put together quite a decent team this time around and They'll win the group going 4-0. Setting up a Prux-taeshan battle for 2nd on Day 2. I think Prux will edge out taeshan for 2nd and taeshan will advance due to the inexperience of HaMedinat Yisrael and Cripistan. Sorry, you two teams, but thanks for playing."

"Prux in the 2nd round? They are a veteran squad. Al rigfht after the break, we'll get predictions for group B, Qazox' group and our Staff picks for the WBC Champions."

<Commerical Break>

"And welcome back. Now in Group B, we have, Milchama, the Pheonix, Quakmybush, North Alskboz and Hjela-Artouusa. Juan how do you see this group shaking out?"

"I think this may finally be the year, the Pheonix get over the hump, and they start by beating Milchama on Day 4 to go 4-0 in the group, Milchama will be 3-1, easily beating the other teams, while in a bit of a stretch, I see North Alskboz holding down 3rd upsetting Quakmybush, who will finish 4th ahead of Hjela-Artouusa."

"Well there you have it folks. And now for our staff picks for the WBC!"

ROB COSTAS:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Zwangzug def. Milchama 3 games to 1
PLATE WINNER: Qazox
BOWL WINNER: HaMedinat Yisrael

JUAN KRIK:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Qazox def. Corneliu 3 Games to 2
PLATE WINNER: Az-cz
BOWL WINNER: The Indonesian States

PAUL GAMMONS:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Az-cz def. Liventia 3 Games to 2
PLATE WINNER: taeshan
BOWL WINNER: Cripistan

TOM KURTJIN:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Corneliu def. Az-cz 3 Games to 1
PLATE WINNER: Qazox
BOWL WINNER: The Indonesian States

STAN DANFORD:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Zwangzug def. taeshan 3 Games to 0
PLATE WINNER: Milchama
BOWL WINNER: The Indonesian States

"That's all for WBC Today, we now send you live to Liventia for game one Qazox vs. North Alskboz, with your hosts, Joe Miller and John Morgan, Guys?"

Matchday One
Group standings are sorted by wins - run difference - runs scored - group seed (higher seed first)

Group A
Corneliu 6 The Indonesian States 1
Zwangzug 7 Holy Marsh 2
Lovisa bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Zwangzug 1 1 0 -- 1.000 7 2 +5
Corneliu 1 1 0 -- 1.000 6 1 +5
Lovisa 0 0 0 0.5 .000 0 0 0
Holy Marsh 1 0 1 1.0 .000 2 7 -5
Indon. States 1 0 1 1.0 .000 1 6 -5

Group B
Milchama 8 Hjela-Artouusa 2
Qazox 7 North Alskboz 1
Quakmybush bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Milchama 1 1 0 -- 1.000 8 2 +6
Qazox 1 1 0 -- 1.000 7 1 +6
Quakmybush 0 0 0 0.5 .000 0 0 0
Hjela-Artouusa 1 0 1 1.0 .000 2 8 -6
North Alskboz 1 0 1 1.0 .000 1 7 -6

Group C
Az-cz 4 Detroit-Madison States 1
Liventia 6 Xaristan 3
Mallatarsland bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Liventia 1 1 0 -- 1.000 6 3 +3
Az-cz 1 1 0 -- 1.000 4 1 +3
Mallatarsland 0 0 0 0.5 .000 0 0 0
Xaristan 1 0 1 1.0 .000 3 6 -3
Det-Mad. States 1 0 1 1.0 .000 1 4 -3

Group D
Taeshan 6 Cipristan 0
Yafor II 5 HaMedinat Yisrael 1
Prux bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Taeshan 1 1 0 -- 1.000 6 0 +6
Yafor 2 1 1 0 -- 1.000 5 1 +4
Prux 0 0 0 0.5 .000 0 0 0
HaMedinat Yis. 1 0 1 1.0 .000 1 5 -4
Cipristan 1 0 1 1.0 .000 0 6 -6

Let me know if you spot any errors in the tables as I'm doing them by hand.

MARSH NATIONAL TEAM LOSES 7-2

The Marsh national team wasted seven innings of solid pitching by Luis Ocasier and the bullpen blew up in the team's first game- and loss- of the classic.
It started off well enough, with only one baserunner reaching past first base in the first five innings. when Luis was on the mound. However, with two outs in the sixth, Eric Steen hit a ball that barely cleared the left-field fence. The seventh was rocky for Luis, but despite having bases loaded and no out, he managed to only allow one run. Niels Masser came in and allowed four runs, three of them on a bases clearing double by Aaron Mombota. Billy Oresain came in and gave up one run. On the batting side, the Marsh team only had two baserunners against Charles McGuffin in seven innings, who struck our thirteen. Ryan Marienlund got on base after a quick single, and the Zwan team manager came out. He decided to leave McGuffin in the game, who then promptly struck out Stan Casen, who went 0-4 with two strikeouts in the game. On the first pitch to Tyler Derscon, he sent the ball over the center field fence. McGuffin would finish the 8th but did not finish the game. Wanting to save his closer and set-up for when they would be needed and seeing the 110 pitches that McGuffin had thrown getting erratic late in the game, the manager sent out Larry Chicago, who turned a 1-5-3 double play to finish the game.

OOC: what's a 'bowl winner', and in the table, what's 'RA'

IC:
TIS SPORTS

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/05/59/17/image_1817595.jpg
Trent Vingt, shortstop, hits the only run of the game. Sadly, there were no bases on.
"Well, the Indonesian States' Tigers have lost their first game to Corneliu 6-1. No surprises for anybody."

" Wow, only 6 runs for Corneliu... umm, I mean...Yeah, Corneliu is one of the best in Baseball, so no one expecter us to win."

"The starting pitcher was Johnathan huber, one of the best in TIS. He just got massacred, in fact, I feel a bit sorry for him..."

"Good things happenes, though, Trent Vingt hit a home-run in the 5th inning. Too bad that there was no one on the bases, and Vingt's hit became the only point for the Tigers in this 6-1 loss."

"That's all for tonight, folks, this is TIS Sports Network"

THE FEDERATION TIMES
Section X: Sports

Xaristan Raiders lose first Game 6-3
Coach Reportedly Said to Have Wanted to "Punch a Baby"

Liventia - Xaristan's first Group C was played against the home team today in Shocker Stadium in front of a standing-room-only crowd. The Raiders felt good about their chances coming in, but those chances quickly faded away. Three first inning runs off of starter Will Powers doomed the Raiders from the beginning. Powers was able to settle down after that, but left in the fifth after giving up two more runs, leaving the score at 5-0. The only Raiders to have reached base by this point were the rookies, Pat Verian, who led off the first with a double, and Jimmy Oran, who hit a line-drive single in the fourth.

After Powers was relieved, Will Jacobson saw his first action on the international stage. He pitched very well, tossing 2 1/3 shutout innings of work while only allowing two hits. He was relieved in the ninth by Randy Yugnes, who allowed a solo home run to DH Danilo Seidner before getting three outs.

Liventia pitcher Michael Taylor seemed to have the team's number all afternoon, especially that of Benjamin Isnaris. For the first time in his WBC career, Isnaris was hitless from the plate. Taylor's splitter and slider frustrated Isnaris all night, who, after striking out for the third time in the game to Taylor in the seventh, slammed his bat into the ground in frustration, breaking it.

Taylor pitched a near-perfect game throughout, only allowing two runs in seven innings of work before turning the ball over to Rory Billimek in the 8th. The only runs scored at that point were off a Victor Bruce single to score Verian from second in the sixth, and Cameron Xerxes knocking in Howie Bergan off a sac fly in the seventh.

Usar Davis scored on a Jimmy Oran single in the eighth before Isnaris flew out to end the inning. Liventia closer Terrance Orbell blanked the side in the ninth for the win.

The Raiders have a bye before facing the 5th team in Group C, Detroit-Madison States, the only other unranked team in Group C. If the team wants any shot at making the next round, this game is a must-win situation for them. Peter Hampton, the veteran right hander, will get the start against Detroit-Madison.

Yaforite Firebugs Roster

Style modifier is a totally Yaforite -2 - if there is such a thing as a karelan baseball team, the Grand Democratic Duchy is that. Good, strong pitching and terrific defense give the Yaforites their victories (if they can get any!), but their lackluster hitting can lose them matches (which is why they tend to try and play small-ball). Upcoming is the twenty-five man roster:

[Yaforites play at home without a DH, in as pitcher's a park as there can be. When there is a DH, Jarifar is inserted into the fourth place in the batting line-up].

[Position] [Name] [Bats/Throws] [Description]

3B - Caris Juir (S/R). Juir is a good defensive player (he gets dirty often and a lot, and has a strong arm). He has the attributes that one looks for in a lead-off hitter; speed, a high on-base percentage, and the drive to, ever day, in and out, give 110%. If he tries to steal too often, it may be because he can get on base so much, and does so, often by bunting.

SS - Arrin Jarridan (S/R). Jarridan is the best player on the Yaforite team. Not only is he a perennial award-winner for his defense (he is quick and has a thunderous arm, especially from the whole), but he is also the best player offensively. From the left side, he is a slap-hitter, sprinting out base hits and taking walks. From the right side, he his for power, accounting for his back-to-back-to-back 50-50 seasons. He has excellent speed, as well.

1B - Tyrius Valderrana (R/R). Valderrana is a rarity - a first baseman with some amount of speed. He can run fairly well, and field his position well, as well. He is in the line-up to provide some fair amount of power. Valderrana is also something of a surprise in the way he bats, since he is almost completely an opposite-field hitter, which can be both a weakness and a strength.

LF - Rabyn Zaranez (L/L). If there is a weak link in terms of fielding, it is Zaranez, who leads the team in errors. He, despite his fourth position on the team, is not a power hitter - instead, he is batting fourth for his ability to hit in the clutch. Zaranez not only has won award after award for his RBI abilities, but Zaranez is also a league leader in Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position (RISP). Zaranez may not catch every ball, but he makes that up for his ability to drive them in.

C - Daaklen Kirjai (S/R). Kirjai is a very good defensive catcher. His greatest strength, it is said, is his ability to call a good game, which is a prized ability in a catcher. He also is very good at getting down and blocking balls in the dirt, though he can, like anyone, mess up. Kirjai, a switch-hitting batter, also possess a strong arm, having thrown out over nine tenths of opposing hitters in his career.

RF - Nan Judaron (S/R). Judaron is anything but a defensive liability. His massive arm in the right field allows him to reach the catcher or third baseman without even a bounce, placing it perfectly for the play. However, he often hits for extra bases as a hitter, but does not have much power.

CF - Tyrius Carian (S/L). Quick and dangerous, Carian is much more of a defensive player than an offensive one. With Zaranez a bit of a weakness, Carian and his skills make up for the fault, due to his excellent range and diving ability. His arm is not suspect at all, but his hitting is, because, while he hits from both sides of the plate, only his speed is above suspicion.

2B - Haridas Jyolt (S/R) If Carian is a second number-one hitter, than Jyolt is a second number-two hitter. He has the ability to bunt a runner over, to do things with a hit and run, and other such number-two hitter abilities. He also turns two well with Jarridan, and as a result, makes up a very good double-play combination.

P - Whoever.

Bench
SS/2B - Monar Calraahim (R/R).
1B/3B/DH - Garregan Jarifar (S/R).
C - Dagor Nelias (R/R).
C - Caristan Nelias (L/L).
LF/RF - Corvan Ta'an
CF - Melius Vankirior.

Starting Pitchers
RHP - Pedran Alvar. Alvar has an excellent fastball, with tremendous movement on his pitches. His fastball often reaches triple digits. In comparison, his slider looks wicked. When Alvar is on, he is untouchable.
LHP - Johan Rean. A "junkballer", Rean is noteworthy for the fact that he sets up his 87-mph fastball with a 64-mph curve, jamming lefties and righties alike.
RHP - Darius Hadagamerion. His fastball reaches up to 94-95 mph, but his abilities with his four off-speed pitched make up for it. He can defeat a team on his own and can always be counted on to be solid.
RHP - Davrain Karajad. His fastball hovers around 97 mph usually, and, with his quick-moving slider and dangerous curve, can be counted as the most solid starter on a very solid staff.
LHP - Raecher Harill. A left-hander with a big, breaking-curve, Harill may be the most suspect on the staff, but is probably the best number-five starter out there.

Middle Relievers/Long Relievers (come in when behind/tied)
RHP - Josain Villikan. Good long reliever with mid 90s fastball.
RHP - Corvan Macran. Stronger fastball, but weaker against lefties.
LHP - Gregan Xiarin. Good against both lefties and righties.

Set-Up Men (come in when ahead)
LHP - Maxin Cotras. Primarily a lefthanded specialist, can also get out righties.
RHP - John Stanford. Throws around 98 mph, can get out almost anybody.

Closer
RHP - Tyrius Validor. Throws around 104 mph, with three off-speed pitches as well. Has been untouchable in his career.

"Well that was quite a way to begin a title defense"

"I would say so, Banner pitching 8 strong innings and the offense dominating especially early"

"Really early I would say, 4 runs in the first inning with Hermes Grand Slam to clear the bases then two more hits and they were lucky to get Hunter gunning toward the plate or else it could have been really bad."

"Yep. Though I don't think Hunter should have gone"

"Whatever"

"No I think this is important we can't have an incompetent third base coach"

"Every team in the MBL has an incompetent third base coach! Do you really expect the national team to be different?!"

"Yes! I expect quality, I expect perfection, I expect a lump of chocolate to the head!"

"Ok"

*Dweedle Dee pours chocolate on Dweedle Dum*

"Thank you very much, this tastes excellent"

"I know"

"Hey who are our next opponents"

"Anonymous scrubs who will be crushed by the champions"

"I was looking for something more specific"

"Do you really expect me to know?"

"How about the media?"

"The Milchamian media hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha yeh right, they can't get anything right. Remember the time they turned Bazalonia's best player into a warewolf"

"No, that was about 100 years ago"

"Ummm... no it was only like 40 or 50 or so. We're not that old"

"Whatever, I'm not that old"

"I'm sure you've seen video"

"So?"

"Good point"

"See I told you"

"Go Cubs!"

"Go Warriors!"

"Come on you Warriors!"

"Yeh that too"

Last night the mighty Purple Knight's of Taeshan took on the young new team from Cipristan. The game was a total blowout.
The knights had the lead from the first pitch. Star 2nd baseman Zi Zo hit a thundering slam that went out of the park. The Tae's would completely domanate the game from then on.
On the mound fro the knights was star pitcher Anthony Rielas. The southpaw with an astonishing pithcing outing would pitch a nine inning shutout.
In the second inning the knights would score yet again after Zoey Menigen drew a walk and Rielas blooped a double for his first hit ever. Rielas would later score the third tae point on a error by the pitcher who overthrew the catcher on a pitchout.
The last three Tae runs wouldn't come til late in the game so the Tae fans watching had to wait. The game was quite uneventful til' finally in the seventh inning the Tae's broke threw for three more runs of an Rbi Double for Diageo, Myers and shakiri.
THE KNIGHTS THEN CLOSED OUT THE LAST 2 OR SO INNINGS WITH AWESOME d AND FLASHY HOT THROWING FROM STARTER Rielas and the Knight's won 6-0.
By a Dude that threw up on a paper

OOC: what's a 'bowl winner', and in the table, what's 'RA'

OOC: RA= Runs Allowed, the Bowl winner is something borrowed from Soccer/Football to determine finishing ranks. Or it may be rugby, i dunno ask Liventia.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to QSPN's exclusive coverage of the Sixth WBC, live from Liventia, I'm Joe Miller and joining me is John Morgan. John what do the Pheonix have to do today to win against North Alskboz?"

"Joe, they just have to keep within themselves and play good defense behind today's starter Samuel Ridge. For North Alskboz, they just have to allow themselves not to get caught up in the hoopla of the WBC and take it one inning and play at a time."

"Well the pregame festivities are done here at the ThunderDome, in Orean. And Ridge is about to take the mound."

<in game skip>

"And leading off the bottom of the third inning for the Pheonix is Vance Taresi. Hopefully the bottom of the order can solve the Alskboz pitcher, who has gotten out of jams in both the first two innigns, thanks to double plays. And here's the pitch, Ball one, just outside."

"Joe, this kid needs to settle down a bit, as he's now up to 40 pitches."

"Right, John, and the 1-0 pitch, and Taresi gets a hold of it, back to the wall, off the top of the wall and Taresi is rounding second on his way to third and he's safe. A lead-off triple for Taresi and Qazox is in business again here in the third."

"Joe, that was a hanging curve that Taresi just sits on and once it hit off the wall, the centerfielder needs to hit the cut-off man, not try to make a 300 foot throw to third for dead center."

"And now comes, Lucas Morgan, son of our John, and here's the pitch, and it's slapped into to left field, Taresi will score, and its 1-0 Qazox!"

"Joe, it's always a joy to see your son get a hit in a game."

"And now back to the top of the order, with Brian Pippen, 0-1 on the day with a strikeout in the 1st. The runner is checked at first and the pitch.. swung and it's down the right field line, Morgan is on to third and Pippen slides just ahead of the throw and now there's runners on scond and third with noone out!"

"Joe, n the first inning, Pippen was fooled by the changeup, but this time he waited on it and slapped it just over the firstbaseman's head for the double."

"Right you are John. Now a tough decision here, do you walk Lonnie Redman to get to David Liber, who struggles a bit with rightys or do you risk the big inning by pitching to Redman? The conference on the mound is over and they're ready to go. Here's the pitch, taken for strike one.... Ready and here's the 0-1 pitch, a curveball just caught the corner, 0 and 2 to Redman."

"That was a nasty backdoor curve there, Most times that would've been popped up."

"And now he's set, the 0-2 pitch, and a drive, it's deep and GONE!!! Three-run homerun by Lonnie Redman, and the Pheonix have a 4-0 lead here in the bottom of the third, and the North Alskboz manager is coming out on the field and he's pointing towards the bullpen, and we'll be back after this break."

<cut to end of game>

"Well a great start for the Phoenix today as they win 7-1 over North Alskboz. 7 runs on 15 hits and no errors for Qazox; 1 run, on 4 hits and 1 error for North Alskboz. For John Morgan, I'm Joe Miller. See you tommorrow night for Qazox vs. Hjela-Artouusa"

BOX SCORE
N. Alskboz 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 1
Qazox 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 1 x 7 15 0

Batting Summary:
2B: Pippen 2, Felde, Morgan
3B: Taresi
HR: Redman, Liber
Steals: None
HBP: Liber (5th inning)
CS: Taresi
RBI: Morgan, Redman 3, Pippen 2, Liber

Pitching Summary:
Ridge: 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Hits (W 1-0)
Davis: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 Hit

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox Third:
Taresi triples to center.
Morgan singles to left, Taresi scores.
Pippen doubles to right, Morgan to third.
Redman Homerun to left, Morgan, Pippen and Redman score.
N. Alskboz pitching change.
Liber strikes out.
Thompson walks.
Riggs singles to right, Thompson to second.
Benjamin flies out to right.
Felde strikes out.
4 runs, 5 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 4-N. Alskboz 0

Qazox Fifth:
Riggs strikes out.
Benjamin singles to left.
Felde ground-rule double to left (fan interference), Benjamin to third.
Morgan flies out to second.
Pippen doubles to right-center, Benjamin and Felde score, Pippen to third on throw.
N. Alskboz pitching change.
Redman intentionally walked.
Liber hit by pitch, Redman to second.
Thompson hits into fielder's choice (6-4).
2 runs, 3 hits, 3 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 6-N. Alskboz 0

North Alskboz Sixth:
LF singles to right.
1B doubles to center, LF scores.
C Hit by pitch.
2B grounds into 6-4-3 double play, 1B to third.
3B strikes out.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 6-N. Alskboz 1

Qazox Eighth:
Pippen groundsout (5-3).
Redman flies out to center.
Liber Homerun to Right, Liber scores.
Thompson single to center.
Riggs grounds out to first.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 7-N. Alskboz 1

Prux had today off and is currnetly in 3rd in the group. Tommorrow begins the quest for another World Title, this one in Baseball!

Schedule:

Today: OFF
Tomorrow: Taeshan
The Day after Tomorrow: Yafor 2
The Day after the Day after Tomorrow: HaMedinat Yisrael
The Day after the Day after the Day after Tomorrow: Cripistan

RA indeed means "runs allowed".

The Cup/Plate/Bowl/Shield format is used in sevens rugby and some futsal tournaments to determine final placings, and I've borrowed the idea for use here. The Bowl winner is the team that finishes 13th out of the 20 signed up.

Matchday Two
Group A
Corneliu 11 Lovisa 3
Zwangzug 3 The Indonesian States 2
Holy Marsh bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Corneliu 2 2 0 -- 1.000 17 4 +13
Zwangzug 2 2 0 -- 1.000 10 4 +6
Holy Marsh 1 0 1 1.5 .000 2 7 -5
Indon. States 2 0 2 2.0 .000 3 9 -6
Lovisa 1 0 1 1.5 .000 3 11 -8

Group B
Milchama 7 Quakmybush 2
Qazox 4 Hjela-Artouusa 0
North Alskboz bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Milchama 2 2 0 -- 1.000 15 4 +11
Qazox 2 2 0 -- 1.000 11 1 +10
Quakmybush 1 0 1 1.5 .000 2 7 -5
North Alskboz 1 0 1 1.5 .000 1 7 -6
Hjela-Artouusa 2 0 2 2.0 .000 2 12 -10

Group C
Az-cz 9 Mallatarsland 7 (extra innings)*
Liventia 4 Detroit-Madison States 0
Xaristan bye

*The scorinator does not produce inning-by-inning results, however after normal scorination there was a tie. Therefore an additional round of calculation was done, and this is presumed to be extra-innings in an IC context. For further RP purposes, assume coin tosses done before matches decide which side bats in the top/bottom half of an inning.

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Liventia 2 2 0 -- 1.000 10 3 +7
Az-cz 2 2 0 -- 1.000 13 8 +5
Mallatarsland 1 0 1 1.5 .000 7 9 -2
Xaristan 1 0 1 1.5 .000 3 6 -3
Det-Mad. States 2 0 2 2.0 .000 1 8 -7

Group D
Taeshan 6 Prux 4
Yafor II 6 Cipristan 1
HaMedinat Yisrael bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Yafor 2 2 2 0 -- 1.000 11 2 +9
Taeshan 2 2 0 -- 1.000 12 4 +8
Prux 1 0 1 1.5 .000 4 6 -2
HaMedinat Yis. 1 0 1 1.5 .000 1 5 -4
Cipristan 2 0 2 2.0 .000 1 12 -11

Mallatarsland Squad

SPONSORED BY AARDVARK PREMIUM LAGER

Batters
Sally Smedley
Susan Smith
Bridgit Harrison
Emma Cosby
Julie Ware (captain)
Jackie Jones
Jenny Stottle
Petra Googlie
Fanny Voight

Throwers
Helen Harmison
Jane Tremlett
Alice Dovitt
Brenda Silverskin
Olive Green

Catchers
Kelly Handwin
Jill Goodyear

Reserves
Lily Basket
Rose Craddock
Olive Black

Frantically re-reading the rule book, managing the team and trying to remember what she did right last time.
Hermione Slange

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to QSPN's exclusive coverage of the Sixth WBC, live from Liventia, I'm Joe Miller and joining me is John Morgan. John after yesterday's 7-1 win, what do the Pheonix have to do to avoid a let-down against Hjela-Artouusa?"

"Joe, they have to get an early lead for Stan Forde, who was bumped up a spot in the rotation, due to Brian Meggars' elbow bursitis, Meggars will pitch against Milchama, giving him an extra two days of rest. But back to Forde, he has two good pitches, but after the 5th inning, he always seems to wear down. So if the Pheonix have the lead after 5 innings, then the bullpen probably can hold it for Tyrone Pitts to close it out."

"All right John, we're ready to go here at the ThunderDome, in Orean."

<in game skip>

"Top of the 7th inning here, and suprisingly Forde is still in despite having thrown 93 pitches so far."

"I think that Victorini is going to see how long Forde can keep it up."

"And Forde sets and the pitch, Strike one, just nipping the outside corner. He's been getting those calls all night, John."

"True, but if he keeps trying to nibble at the corners, eventually he'll leave a fatone and give up a hit."

"Heres the 0-1 pitch, and There it goes, a line drive just over the head of Pascual Benjamin, and the No-hitter is broken up. And the sellout crowd here in Orean is giving Forde a standing ovation. John what happened on that last pitch?"

"Well Joe, he tried to work the curve into the batter, but it just hung up there and he laced it into center for the first Hjela-Artouusa hit of the game."

"Victorini is not wasting any time here and calls to the bullpen and Hector Ortega, who was warming up last inning will come into the game. But a great job by Forde, as he goes 6+ innings allowing just one hit."

<cut to end of game>

"The Pheonix are 2-0 to start off the WBC and with a win tomorrow against Quakmybush, can clinch a second round berth. For John Morgan, I'm Joe Miller. See you tommorrow afternoon for Qazox vs. Quakmybush."

BOX SCORE
Qazox 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 11 1
H-Artouusa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Felde (2)
3B: None
HR: None
Steals: Pippen 2
HBP: None
CS: None
RBI: Felde, Taresi, Liber (2)

Pitching Summary:
Forde: 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 Hit (W 1-0)
Ortega: 1 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 2 hits (H-1)
Pitts: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB, 1 hit (Sv-1)
Note: Forde pitched to one batter in 7th.
E: Morgan

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox Second:
Riggs singles to left.
Benjamin infield single to third, Riggs to second.
Felde doubles to center, Riggs scores, Benjamin thrown out at plate (9-5-2), Felde to third on throw.
Taresi singles to left, Felde scores.
Morgan flies out to right.
Pippen singles to right, Taresi to third.
Taresi scores on wild pitch, Pippen to second.
Redman singles to center, Pippen to third.
Liber strikesout.
3 runs, 6 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 3-H-Artouusa 0

Qazox Ninth:
Taresi strikes out.
Morgan flies out to center.
Pippen infield single to third.
Pippen steals second (2-0 pitch).
Redman walks.
Liber singles to left, Pippen scores, Redman to second.
Thompson singles to center, Redman thrown out at plate (9-6-2).
1 runs, 3 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 4-H-Artouusa 0

Ace Spade has a rare lousy outing, allowing 4 runs in the first on only 2 hits, both two-run homruns to Zi Zo and Fier Henris. Spade does go the distance, allowing two more runs in the 5th, a two run shot by Tadihito Shakiri.

Prux got all 4 of its runs in the bottom of the 8th, a grandslam by Heath Barr off of taeshan starter Zeke Peters. Peters managed to get the win nevertheless as Ohmegode Frede pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings for the save.


Schedule:

Yesterday: OFF
Today: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
Tomorrow: Yafor 2
The Day after Tomorrow: HaMedinat Yisrael
The Day after the Day after Tomorrow: Cripistan

I do apologise for the lack of RPs coming from my end, but work commitments mean that during weekdays I only have time to scorinate the matches but not RP them. Expect most of my RPing to be done over the weekend.

Matchday Three

Group A
Zwangzug 6 Lovisa 1
Holy Marsh 2 The Indonesian States 1
Corneliu bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Zwangzug 3 3 0 -- 1.000 16 5 +11 Q2
Corneliu 2 2 0 0.5 1.000 17 4 +13
Holy Marsh 2 1 1 1.5 .500 4 8 -4
-------------------------------------------------------
Indon. States 3 0 3 3.0 .000 4 11 -7
Lovisa 2 0 2 2.5 .000 4 17 -13

The Indonesian States is ahead of Lovisa on DIF despite
being more games behind. Zwangzug has qualified for the
second group phase.

Group B
Qazox 6 Quakmybush 3
North Alskboz 1 Hjela-Artouusa 0
Milchama bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Qazox 3 3 0 -- 1.000 16 4 +12 Q2
Milchama 2 2 0 0.5 1.000 15 4 +11
North Alskboz 2 1 1 1.5 .500 2 7 -5
-------------------------------------------------------
Quakmybush 2 0 2 2.5 .000 5 13 -8
Hjela-Artouusa 3 0 3 3.0 .000 2 13 -11

Qazox has qualified for the second group phase.

Group C
Liventia 4 Mallatarsland 2
Xaristan 2 Detroit-Madison States 0
Az-cz bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Liventia 3 3 0 -- 1.000 14 5 +9 Q2
Az-cz 2 2 0 0.5 1.000 13 8 +5
Xaristan 2 1 1 1.5 .500 5 6 -1
-------------------------------------------------------
Mallatarsland 2 0 2 2.5 .000 9 13 -4
Det-Mad. States 3 0 3 3.0 .000 1 10 -9

Liventia has qualified for the second group phase.

Group D
Yafor II 9 Prux 8 (extra innings)
HaMedinat Yisrael 1 Cipristan 2
Taeshan bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Yafor 2 3 3 0 -- 1.000 20 10 +10 Q2
Taeshan 2 2 0 0.5 1.000 12 4 +8
Cipristan 3 1 2 2.0 .333 3 13 -10
-------------------------------------------------------
Prux 2 0 2 2.0 .000 12 15 -3
HaMedinat Yis. 2 0 2 2.0 .000 2 7 -5

Yafor 2 has qualified for the second group phase.

HOLY MARSH WINS FIRST GAME IN CLASSIC

MSN Sports Short

A late-game rally wins the game for the national team. Shane Lorn hit a double in the seventh inning that allowed Paul Williams to score from first. Kenny Saser hit a sacrifice fly that reached to the warning track in center field that allowed Stan casen to score from third in the 8th. Two runs were all that was needed thanks to excellent pitching by Samantha Casen. She did not strike out a single batter, but pitched eight innings on only 92 pitches. A double by Trent Vingt that scored Mi Jung Li in the fifth was the first run of the game. Closer Rickey Mullondah got a 1-2-3 ninth to convert the save, while TIS pitcher Bambang Primawajaya struggled late due to exhaustion. Next on the plate is Lovisa.

TIS SPORTS

"Well, the Indonesian States' team lost all their games, even to the Holy Marsh."

That's right, a 3-2 loss against Zwanzug and a 2-1 loss against the Holy Marsh brings them to the bottom two in the Group."

"well, at least theyr'e above liventia"

"Yes, I suppose that's a positive note...anyway, here's some info on the Game against Zwanzug:

The Starting Pitcher for the game was Abdul bin Youssef, a southpaw with a killer slider. He managed to strike out a few batters with his wide variety of pitches he has. 3rd Baseman Alice Garujali stole from first to third in the 5th inning, putting her in scoring position. Ridwan dirham got himself a double, and Alice ran for home plate, scoring a run. An enthusiastic Dirham ran towards home after Zwanzug's catcher unwittingly threw the ball back to the pitcher. Dirham then got hit by a killer ball thrown by the Zwanzug pitcher. He was at home base, however, so that made the score 2-2. Sadly, Zwanzug scored in the 7th, securing a win.

we beat prux then didnt play o yeah what ya gonna do bout it.

The Federation Times
Section X: Sports

Raiders Relievers Rack Up Shutout
Isnaris regains form, Rookies Shine

Liventia - The Xaristan Raiders pulled out a 2-0 win over Detroit-Madison States today in the World Baseball Classic, allowing them to hold precariously onto the third and final spot that makes it out of the first round of pool play. The Raiders play fourth-place Mallatarsland tomorrow, with Az-cz the day after that. It would be logical to assume that the Raiders will have to win at least one of these last two to make it through the first round.

After his first ever hitless appearance in a World Baseball Classic, slugger Benjamin Isnaris regained his form today. Isnaris slugged a solo home run to lead off the second inning, and notched the insurance marker in the seventh, knocking rookie Jimmy Oran in from first with a double.

Pat Verian and Oran both played stellar in the field today as well. Verian made a leaping catch to rob Detroit-Madison of a home run in the third, while Oran made a number of Gold Glove-esque stops down the third base line today. Neither team had any errors today.

But beyond the offense and defense in the field, the award for the game's MVP goes to the Xaristan bullpen. Starter Peter Hampton allowed one hit in the first before appearing to possibly pull a groin muscle in his first warm-up pitch of the second. Wincing in pain and limping, Hampton was taken to the locker room for an MRI as Stanley Parsons came in in long relief. And was he simply stellar. Parsons pitched perfectly for five innings, striking out six with no walks before allowing a bloop single to end the seventh. He was replaced by Zoltan Loassr to start the eighth and then Danny Tartarus pitched a perfect ninth to end the game with the score 2-0.

Rookie Vince Dredor will get the start against the veteran Mallatarsland side. It will be a huge game for the rookie, one which could define the rest of the Raiders' Classic.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen, but we don't know why."

"...finally getting on the air, no thanks to you."

"Have you seen the Lovisa lineup?"

"No, that's why they have names on the back of their jerseys."

"But they don't have names on the back of their jerseys."

"Sure they do-Rubin, Rifkin-"

"-I was talking about Lovisa."

"Oh. Okay. Well. Don't know then..."

"...Jingle hasn't yet reached base this tournament."

"The pitch comes in, and-" crack! "sliced out to left field.

"A solid single for Ollie Jingle, as Rifkin and Steen come in to score, blowing the game open, 5-0."

"Look, I support relevant commentary as much as the next play-by-play dude...who, in this case, happens to be asleep on his non-English keyboard...but does it have to rhyme?"

"In cases like this, yes."

"Okay, fans, switch to FM if you want WorldVision flopouts. This is baseball, right..."

"...in the immortal words of Alice Garujali, "Is you racist ‘cauze I iz a"...well, female?"

"No. No. I can say quite blatantly that I am not. Racism is about the only problem we don't have, but we don't."

"Hmm. Anyhow. Reynolds saving Utopia for the Corneliu game, so Amadeo gets a small chance to make good-he, of course, having surrendered the winning home run last tournament. And you all know who hit it, except perhaps this-"

"The unidentified Lovisan grounds to Mombota, who rifles it over to first for the out, and that'll be the game."

"A convincing 6-1 victory ensures Zwangzug's qualification for the second group phase, while enacting more revenge on the Lovisans for that extra-inning defeat...but that's in the past, and we look towards the future here."

"Bastards!"

"I know how could we not be the first to qualify?"

"Yeh, we're the best!"

"Why is the bye day now? Why couldn't it be after we qualified or something?"

"I blame supernatural forces"

"That's a good idea, goddamn you god"

"That doesn't make sense"

"It's all good"

"How is it all good?! We aren't the first ones to qualify and on top of that we still have, I don't know something to do with cheese"

"See now you're just grasping for straws, you know we're fine but don't want to admit it so you're making stuff up and I, for one, hate it. I also welcome our new alien overlords"

"I think we need to do something different because this conversation is making less and less sense"

"That's what you think"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, that is what I think"

"Good for you"

"I know it is quite good, isn't it"

"You bet"

"Hey how did we do Matchday 2 anyway?"

"Oh quite well, complete game from Claymont and a 7-2 thrashing"

"Good stuff there"

"I agree"

"Come on you Warriors!"

"Yeh, come on now!"

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to QSPN's exclusive coverage of the Sixth WBC, live from Liventia, I'm Joe Miller and joining me is John Morgan. John after yesterday's 4-0 win, what do the Pheonix have to do today to beat a good Quakmybush team?"

"Joe, Micheal Nieves has to go at least 5 innings and has to keep the knuckleball jumping, or else it could be a very long day for the Pheonix."

"All right John, we're ready to go here at the ThunderDome, in Orean."

<in game skip>

"Top of the 8th inning here, and Quakmybush leads 3-1, as Nieves was rocked int he 6th, allowing 3 runs on only 2 hits."

"Three walks in the inning and the wild pitch didn't help any either."

"Frank Carre, who came into the game in the 4th, due to Liber's injury. And the medical update is that Liber has a strained ligament in his ankle and is day-to-day. Carre, who flied out in the 6th in is previous at-bat, looks at the pitch, and its back, way back and off the foul pole in left! A solo shot for Carre and its now 3-2, Quakmybush!"

"That breaking-ball just didn't break and Carre jumped all over it."

"And a visit to the mound to calm the pitcher down, with Thompson, who's 0-2 so far today. Thompson waits, and its hit to deep left field and it's Dropped!!! And Thompson winds up on second after the error by the left fielder and Qazox is in business."

"I guess he lost it in the lights, Joe."

"Well that looks like that will do it for the Quakmybush pitcher. We'll be back after this break."

<Commerical Break>

"And we're back. Thompson on second after the error and in steps in Riggs, 1-2 with a single in the 4th. Riggs swings and its into left field and Thompson will score, and it's tied up at 3 here in the 8th!"

<cut to end of game>

"The Pheonix win a tough one 6-3, to improve to 3-0 in the WBC and have clinched a berth into the second round of the qualifiers. We'll see you tomorrow for the Milchama game, which probably will be the best in the WBC's first round. For John Morgan, I'm Joe Miller."

BOX SCORE
Qazox 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 6 12 1
Quakmybush 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 9 1


Batting Summary:
2B: Pippen (3)
3B: None
HR: Carre
Steals: Pippen (3)
HBP: None
CS: Taresi (2)
RBI: Thompson, Carre 2, Riggs, Morgan (2), Pippen 2 (4)
SF: Thompson

Pitching Summary:
Nieves: 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 1 K, 6 BB, 5 Hits
Thurston: 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 Hit
Ericsen: 1 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 hits (W 1-0)
Pitts: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 1 hit (Sv-2)
WP: Nieves 2
PB: Liber
E: Taresi

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox First:
Pippen strikes out.
Redman Singles to left.
Liber doubles to right, Redman to third.
Thompson flies out to center, Redman scores.
Riggs groundout to second (4-2).
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Qazox 1-Quakmybush 0

Quakmybush Seventh:
LF walked.
LF advances to second on Wild Pitch.
3B singles to left, LF Scores.
2B safe at first on Taresi error, 3B safe at second.
DH walked. 3B to third, 2B to second.
3B scores on Wild pitch, 2B to third.
C strikes out.
RF single to left, DH to second, 2B Scores.
Pitching change: Thurston in for Nieves.
1B single to left, DH to third, RF to second.
CF Strikes out.
Pitching change: Ericsen in for Thurston.
SS flies out to left.
3 runs, 3 hits, 3 LOB, 1 Errors Qazox 1-Quakmybush 3

Qazox Eighth:
Carre Homerun to left, Carre scores.
Thompson reaches on LF error, advances to second.
Riggs single to left, Thompson scores.
Pitching Change: Quakmybush
Tersely in to pinch run for Riggs
Benjamin single to right, Tersely to third.
Felde strikes out.
Taresi walked, Benjamin to second.
Morgan single to center, Teresly scores, Benjamin to third, Taresi to second.
Pippen doubles to center, Benjamin and Taresi score, Morgan to third.
Redman grounds out to third (5-2).
Carre single to right, Morgan scores, Pippen to third.
Thompson strikes out.
5 runs, 6 hits, 2 LOB, 1 Errors Qazox 6-Quakmybush 3

Ace Hart allows 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th and a solo home run in the 10th as Yafor 2 clinches a 2nd round berth with a 9-8 come from behind win.


Schedule:

Day before Yesterday: OFF
Yesterday: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
Today: Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
Tomorrow: HaMedinat Yisrael
The Day after Tomorrow: Cripistan

Matchday Four

Group A
Corneliu 8 Zwangzug 10
Lovisa 2 Holy Marsh 5
The Indonesian States bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Zwangzug 4 4 0 -- 1.000 26 13 +13 Q2
Corneliu 3 2 1 1.5 .667 25 14 +11 Q2
Holy Marsh 3 2 1 1.5 .667 9 10 -1 Q2
-------------------------------------------------------
Indon. States 3 0 3 3.5 .000 4 11 -7 Bowl
Lovisa 3 0 3 3.5 .000 6 22 -16 Bowl

Zwangzug has won the group. Corneliu and Holy Marsh
join Zwangzug in the second group phase. The Indonesian
States and Lovisa will play in the Bowl tournament.

Group B
Milchama 11 Qazox 10 (extra innings)
Quakmybush 5 North Alskboz 2
Hjela-Artouusa bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Milchama 3 3 0 -- 1.000 26 14 +12 Q2
Qazox 4 3 1 0.5 .667 26 15 +11 Q2
Quakmybush 3 1 2 2.0 .333 10 15 -5
-------------------------------------------------------
North Alskboz 3 1 2 2.0 .333 4 12 -8
Hjela-Artouusa 3 0 3 3.0 .000 2 13 -11

Milchama joins Qazox in the second group phase. No team has
won the group yet. The other three teams are all still
mathematically in it to secure the final qualifying place.

Group C
Az-cz 3 Liventia 4
Mallatarsland 2 Xaristan 3
Detroit-Madison States bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Liventia 4 4 0 -- 1.000 18 8 +10 Q2
Az-cz 3 2 1 1.5 .667 16 12 +4 Q2
Xaristan 3 2 1 1.5 .667 8 8 0 Q2
-------------------------------------------------------
Mallatarsland 3 0 3 3.5 .000 11 16 -5 Bowl
Det-Mad. States 3 0 3 3.5 .000 1 10 -9 Bowl

Liventia has won the group. Az-cz and Xaristan join Liventia
in the second group phase. Mallatarsland and Detroit-Madison
States will play in the Bowl tournament.

Group D
Taeshan 5 Yafor II 4
Prux 3 HaMedinat Yisrael 0
Cipristan bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Taeshan 3 3 0 -- 1.000 17 8 +9 Q2
Yafor 2 4 3 1 0.5 .667 24 15 +9 Q2
Prux 3 1 2 2.0 .333 15 15 0
-------------------------------------------------------
Cipristan 3 1 2 2.0 .333 3 13 -10
HaMedinat Yis. 3 0 3 3.0 .000 2 10 -8

Taeshan joins Yafor 2 in the second group phase. No team has
won the group yet. The other three teams are all still
mathematically in it to secure the final qualifying place.

THE FEDERATION TIMES
Section X: Sports

Raiders Win Game 3-2 on Walk-Off Homer, Advance
Team Swarms Bergan at Home Plate

Liventia - The magic continues. With one swing of his bat, Howie Bergan, a backup catcher last World Baseball Classic, sent the Xaristan Raiders to the second round of pool play. The Raiders knocked off Mallatarsland, ranked ninth in the world, to spark a jubilant celebration both in Liventia and back in Xaristan, where millions were watching.

It looked like the Raiders would have to earn their way in against Az-cz, a much tougher team, after the first inning. Rookie right hander Vince Dredor allowed back to back home runs to start off the game. Having just thrown two pitches, the Raiders were already down two runs. Bergan went out and settled him down, and Dredor only allowed another hit and walked a batter before getting out of the inning.

Whatever Bergan, Dredor, and pitching coach Gregory Uuser spoke about in the dugout, it worked to perfection. Dredor came out and turned from a batting practice pitcher into someone unhittable. He racked up seven straight strike outs before another Mallastarland batter managed to get her bat on the ball, grounding out. Another strikeout ended the fourth.

Behind Dredor's suddenly stellar performance, the rest of the team rallied. Pat Verian stole third in the third inning and then was knocked home on a sac fly by Jacob Farthington. And the very next inning, DH Cameron Xerxes smacked a hard single that scored Jimmy Oran from third, but saw Benjamin Isnaris gunned down as he tried to score from second.

Dredor lasted until the end of the sixth, as manager Harold Belfour wanted to limit his pitch count. The score was 2-2 when he was replaced by reliever Edward Gigante. Gigante, who had struggled mightily in the last WBC with control and velocity, always getting one but not the other, pitched two stellar innings, only allowing two hits and no runs.

Loassr came in to pitch the eighth, working it perfectly, as did Tartarus in the ninth. With the defense and pitching doing what they were supposed to do, the offense knew that it was now their time to act. Benjamin Isnaris was robbed at the wall as he led off, leading to a collective groan heard from the Xaristan faithful in attendance. Xerxes struck out swinging. But then, on a 2-1 pitch, Bergan smashed a sinkerball that didn't sink quite enough into the upper deck, sending his teammates streaming onto the field.

Xaristan is now a lock for the second round as both Mallatarsland and Detroit-Madison States are unable to over take them, as the Raiders sit at 2-1 and both teams are at 0-3 with one game left in the first round of pool play.

Another rookie starts tomorrow's game against Az-cz, two time champions of this event. Right hander Charlie Donnelly will be on the mound for the Raiders. Though the game means nothing, the team looks to shock the world once again by taking down another major baseball powerhouse.

Yesterday in a huge baseball game in liventia the purple knights pretty much one there group with a 5-4 win over there foes Yafor 2. The knights who only play Hademinat Yisrael an unranked team now have guranteed qualification to the second round, and an easy expected win going into the next round.
The games scorers for the knights were as follows... Zi zo with 2 homeruns, one a solo in the first and the last a grand slam walk off in the ninth. On base were Tae releiver Victor Frun, 2b Zoey menigen, and Center fielder
Riane Totalez.

HOLY MARSH ADVANCES TO ROUND TWO

Stan Casen had five RBIs and Timothy Tammers pitches seven strong innings and the national team advances to the second round in their first classic.
The first three innings went by quickly, all eighteen batters combined being sat right back down. However, Paul Williams singled, Shane Lorn walked, and Ryan Marienlund reached on an error to load the bases for Stan Casen. On a 2-2 pitch, he crushed the ball into the upper deck in right field. In the same inning, Tammers gave up five hits and allowed two runs. Both staffs settled down in the fifth and sixth innings, only one baserunner reaching. In the seventh, both pitchers had to get out of jams. In the 8th, Casen put on a squeeze play with Paul Williams on first, the buny being laid perfectly and Williams scoring. Billy Oresain got a 1-2-3 8th, and Rickey Mullondah came in the ninth and hit the fist batter before getting a double play on the first pitch to the second batter and then a strikeout to finish the game.

This is the National Team's first classic, and some are shocked by their success. Skeptics note that the team's two wins came against the worst teams in their division, and that it will be impossible for the to advance past the second round unless they get more consistent hitting. "Home runs aren't common in classics, and relying on them for run production is folly." Says St. Everis Manager Buck Huttol.
"As long as we play the game the right way, the Marsh will shine luck upon us." Said Stan Casen.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today's Milchma-Qazox game, as predicted by most was the most competitive game of the first round as Milchama won 11-10 in 16 innings, the longest WBC game in history. Both teams left nothing on the field, or in the bullpen as Qazox used 7 pitchers, saving only yesterday's starter Micheal Nieves and Game One of the second round starter Samuel Ridge. Milchama used 6 pitchers, emptying most of its bullpen out as well. The game was won on a sac bunt by Milchama's Emily O'Neil in the top of the 16th off of Fred Davis. A full recap is coming at the 9:00pm WBC Today, with full highlights."


BOX SCORE

Milchama 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 11 23 1
Qazox 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 22 1


Batting Summary:
2B: Thompson, Benjamin, Felde, Pippen (4)
3B: none
HR: Redman (2)
Steals: none
HBP: none
CS: none
RBI: Benjamin, Felde 2 (4), Redman 3 (6), Pippen 2 (6), Liber 2 (3)
SF: Liber
Sac: Pippen

Pitching Summary:
Meggars: 5 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 5 K, 2 BB, 11 Hits
Thurston: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 2 Hits
Ortega: 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 0 K, 1 BB, 4 Hits
Ericsen: 1 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 Hits
Pitts: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 0 hits
Forde: 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB, 2 Hits
Davis: 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 2 hits (L 0-1)

WP: Ortega
PB: Liber (2)
E: Thompson

SCORING SUMMARY:
Milchama First:
Sidelman singles to left.
Holland strikes out.
O'Neil doubles to right, Sidelman scores.
Chinggist walks.
Hermes grounds into double play (4-6-3), Chinggist out at second.
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Milchama 1-Qazox 0

Qazox Second:
Thompson Doubles to center
Riggs flies out to right, Thompson to third.
Benjamin doubles to left, Thompson scores, Benjamin to third on throw.
Felde grounds out (6-3), Benjamin scores.
Taresi Grounds out (5-3).
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Milchama 1-Qazox 2

Qazox Fifth
Morgan singles to left.
Pippen singles to center, Morgan to second.
Redman Homerun to left-center. Morgan, Pippen and Redman score.
Liber strikes out.
Thompson groundout (3-1).
Riggs singles to left.
Benjamin singles to right.
Felde doubles to right, Riggs scores, Benjamin to third.
Pitching change, Milchama. Ole' Gomez in for Henry Remteyn.
Taresi flies out to left.
4 runs, 6 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Milchama 1-Qazox 6

Milchama Sixth:
Hermes doubles to center.
Hunter Homerun to right. Hermes and Hunter score.
Raritt singles to left.
Remant singles to right, Raritt to third, Remant on error by Thompson.
Gonzalez strikes out.
Sidelman doubles to left. Raritt and Remant score.
Pitching change: Thurston in for Meggars.
Holland singles to center, Sidelman scores.
O'Neil grounds into fielder choice (5-4), Holland out at second.
Chinggist singles to right.
Hermes Strikes out.
5 runs, 7 hits, 2 LOB, 1 Errors Milchama 6-Qazox 6

Milchama Eighth:
Pitching change: Ortega in for Thurston
Gonzalez walks.
Sidelman singles to center. Gonzalez to second.
Holland flies out to left.
O'Neil singles to right, Gonzalez to third, Sidelman to second.
Chinggist singles to left, Gonzalez and Sidelman score, O'Neil to second.
Hermes singles to right, O'Neil scores, Chinggist out advancing to third.
Pitching change: Ericsen in for Ortega.
Hunter singles to third, Hermes to second.
Raritt grounds out (6-3).
3 runs, 5 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Milchama 9-Qazox 6

Qazox Ninth
Pitching change: Oleg Channuck in for Ole' Gomez.
Felde singles to right.
Taresi walks, Felde to second.
Washington pinchrunning for Felde
Morgan strikes out.
Pippen doubles to right, Washington scores, Taresi scores.
Redman singles to right. Pippen to third.
Liber singles to left. Pippen scores, Redman to second.
Pitching Change: Thomos Alem in for Oleg Channuck
Thompson flies out to center.
Riggs strikes out.
3 runs, 4 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Milchama 9-Qazox 9

Milchama Twelfth
Raritt Homerun to right.
Remant strikes out.
Gonzalez flies out to right.
Sidelman groundsout (6-3).
1 run, 1 hit, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Milchama 10-Qazox 9

Qazox Twelfth
Pitching change: Edgar Allen in for Thomos Alem
Mason Pinch-hitting for Morgan
Mason safe at second on Remant's throwing error.
Pippen sacrifice bunt (2-3). Mason to third.
Redman walks.
Liber flies out to center. Morgan scores.
Thompson singles to right. Redman to second.
Riggs singles to center. Redman to third, Thompson to second.
Benjamin strikes out.
1 run, 2 hits, 3 LOB, 1 Errors Milchama 10-Qazox 10

Milchama sixteenth
Pitching Change: Davis in for Forde.
Gonzalez singles to right.
Gonzalez advances to second on Davis' wild pitch.
Sidelman strikes out.
Holland singles to left, Gonzalez to third.
O'Neil, sacrifice bunt (2-6). Gonzalez scores. Holland out at second.
Chinggist flies out to right.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 11-Qazox 10

Prux wins first game 3-0 as Ace Diamond throws the third confirmed no-hitter in WBC history. Tob Lerone hit 2 home runs in the 3rd and 5th, while Clark Barr knocked in the other run in the 7th. A win against Cripistan will clinch a 2nd round berth for the Power.

Schedule:

The Day before the day before Yesterday: OFF
The Day before Yesterday: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
Yesterday: Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
Today: HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
Tomorrow: Cripistan

Liventia win Group C

The Liventian baseball team has won Group C in the First Group Phase of the sixth World Baseball Classic, a group which includes multiple-time champions Az-cz.

The group was sealed with a tight 4-3 win over Az-cz, which helped Liventia to a 4-0 record. Group C is one of two groups that have already been decided, with Groups B and D still each having one qualification spot open to be decided on the last matchday.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
AZ-CZ 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 1
LIVENTIA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 - 4 10 0

WP: Shupert (1-0)
SV: Orbell (3)

The game was won in the bottom of the eighth inning when, with the score at 3-3, right fielder Clay Easter homered to right off the foul pole. The Gnomes could not respond in the top of the ninth as closer Terrence Orbell shut the game down, allowing starting pitcher Darren Shupert — who went eight strong innings allowing three runs on only six hits — to get the win.

Game summary (Liventia):
FIRST INNING
Az-cz wins the toss and elects to bat first.

BOTTOM
Cable flies out to deep right.
Rosenstiehl fouls out to the catcher.
Pittman homers to deep left-centre, 421 ft.
Seidner singles down the middle.
Easter grounds to short, runner out at second on the fielder's choice.

SECOND INNING
Allshouse doubles to deep left.
Shafer bunt singles, Allshouse to third.
Chung fouls out to first.
Wells lines out to centre.
Cable strikes out swinging.

THIRD INNING
Rosenstiehl hit by pitch.
Rosenstiehl advances to second on a wild pitch.
Pittman doubles to right, Rosenstiehl thrown out at home by the right fielder. Pittman to third on the throw.
Seidner flies out to deep centre. Pittman scores on the sac fly.
Easter strikes out looking.

FOURTH INNING
Allshouse ground-rule doubles to right (fan interference).
Shafer infield singles to third, Allshouse remains at second.
Chung pops out on the infield fly. Runners hold.
Wells grounds the ball to second. Shafer out at second on the fielder's choice. Allshouse to third. Wells reaches first on a catching error by the first baseman. Allshouse scores from third on the error.
Wells caught trying to steal second.

FIFTH INNING
Cable grounds out to first.
Rosenstiehl strikes out swinging.
Pittman flies out to centre.

SIXTH INNING
Seidner lines out to shortstop.
Easter singles down the left-field line.
Allshouse grounds out to second. Easter out at second on the 4-6-3 double play.

SEVENTH INNING
Shafer strikes out swinging (foul-tip).
Chung hit by pitch.
Judge in to run for Chung at first.
Judge steals second.
Wells hit by pitch. Wells charges the mound. Az-cz pitcher ejected. Wells ejected.
Mackendoer in to run for Wells at first.
Cable infield singles. Judge to third. Mackendoer to second.
Rosenstiehl flies out to shallow left. Judge thrown out at home by the left fielder on the 7-2 double play.

EIGHTH INNING
Pittman strikes out looking.
Seidner flies out to right.
Easter homers to right off the foul pole, 326 ft.
Allshouse grounds out to third.

NINTH INNING
No bottom ninth inning was played.

AB R H RBI BB SO AVG*
Cable SS 4 0 1 0 0 1 .250
Rosenstiehl 1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Pittman 3B 4 2 2 1 0 1 .500
Seidner DH 3 0 1 1 0 0 .333
Easter RF 4 1 2 1 0 1 .500
Allshouse C 4 1 2 0 0 0 .500
Shafer LF 3 0 2 0 0 1 .667
Chung CF 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1-Judge PR, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Wells 2B 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2-Mackendoer PR, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Total 30 4 10 3 0 5 .333
1-Judge ran for Chung in the 7th.
2-Mackendoer ran for Wells in the 7th.
Notes-Chung injured in 7th after HBP.
Wells ejected in 7th for charging the mound.

2B: Allshouse 2; Pittman
HR: Pittman (1st inning, 0 on, 2 out);
Easter (8th inning, 0 on, 2 out)
SF: Seidner (3rd inning, 2 out)
HBP: Rosenstiehl (3rd inning);
Chung (7th inning);
Wells (7th inning)
SB: Judge (7th inning, 2nd base, 1 out)
CS: Wells (4th inning, 2 out)

Matchday Five

Group A
Corneliu 7 Holy Marsh 3
Lovisa 2 The Indonesian States 3
Zwangzug bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Zwangzug 4 4 0 -- 1.000 26 13 +13 Q2
Corneliu 4 3 1 1.0 .667 32 18 +14 Q2
Holy Marsh 4 2 2 2.0 .500 9 10 -1 Q2
-------------------------------------------------------
Indon. States 4 1 3 3.0 .333 7 13 -6 Bowl
Lovisa 4 0 4 4.0 .000 8 25 -17 Bowl

Group B
Milchama 10 North Alskboz 1
Quakmybush 4 Hjela-Artouusa 1
Qazox bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Milchama 4 4 0 -- 1.000 36 15 +21 Q2
Qazox 4 3 1 1.0 .667 26 15 +11 Q2
Quakmybush 4 2 2 2.0 .500 14 16 -2 Q2
-------------------------------------------------------
North Alskboz 4 1 3 3.0 .333 5 22 -17 Bowl
Hjela-Artouusa 4 0 4 4.0 .000 3 17 -14 Bowl

Group C
Az-cz 3 Xaristan 7
Mallararsland 4 Detroit-Madison States 0
Liventia bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Liventia 4 4 0 -- 1.000 18 8 +10 Q2
Xaristan 4 3 1 1.0 .667 15 11 +4 Q2
Az-cz 4 2 2 2.0 .500 19 19 0 Q2
-------------------------------------------------------
Mallatarsland 4 1 3 3.0 .333 15 16 -1 Bowl
Det-Mad. States 4 0 4 4.0 .000 1 14 -13 Bowl

Group D
Taeshan 9 HaMedinat Yisrael 0
Prux 7 Cipristan 1
Yafor 2 bye

TEAM PL W L GB PCT RS RA DIF
Taeshan 4 4 0 -- 1.000 26 8 +18 Q2
Yafor 2 4 3 1 1.0 .667 24 15 +9 Q2
Prux 4 2 2 2.0 .500 22 16 +6 Q2
-------------------------------------------------------
Cipristan 4 1 3 3.0 .333 4 20 -16 Bowl
HaMedinat Yis. 4 0 4 4.0 .000 2 19 -17 Bowl

You would be listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen, if you wanted to sit through three-and-a-half hours of sloppy defense. Since you don't, we've cut to the go-ahead run.

"Bases loaded here in the eighth."

"The pitch comes in, tight inside changeup there."

"Barry looks like he went to swing but changed his mind. Too late!"

"Blooper to first. The Pirate first baseman charges, flips to the reliever covering. Over to second and that'll get Jingle, but Rifkin barrels in."

"That'll make it 9-8 for the Zebras..."

Well, a go-ahead run, then. Eighteen runs, the lead's going to change hands a couple times. It's not exactly an RBI, though, so what do you call it? Game-winning run driven in?

Excellent, another statistic to track!

And on that gleefully data-obsessed note, we present yesterday's statistic-of-the-day, the ever-useful Errors Committed With Runners In Scoring Position In The Seventh Inning Or Later. Well, we would if there wasn't just the one. Maybe you want to listen tothat? We hope so, anyhow.

"...hit softly on the ground to Thiesen, who-bobbles it! The runner advances to third."

"And this makes the game's first error since the sixth inning."

"...You're just trying to take the focus off Thiesen, aren't you?"

The purple knights of Taeshan crushed the Hademinat Yisrael team last night 9-0. The 3rd ranked in the world showed the Hademinat team why they are so highly praised.
The game started with 5 straight first pitch homeruns by Zi Zo, Zoey Menigen, Socki Lewis, Tadihito shakiri, and Fier Henris. The slaughtered just continued from then on.
In the sixth inning Flean Diageo would hit his own two run homer with Sol Jeeves a pinch runner on base to make it 7-0.
Final in the 8th the slaughtered was finished when Socki Lewis, and Zi Zo hit there second Solos's for a final; whooping of the Hademinat team 9-0.
The purple knights advance from there group with fellow teams yafor 2 and Prux.

The Federation Times
Section X: Sports

Raiders Beat Az-cz 7-4 on Barrage of Power
Donnelly Shines In First Start, Earns Win

Liventia - In a shocking upset today, the Xaristan Raiders stunned the world as they beat powerhouse Az-cz 7-4 in the last game of pool play. Az-cz came into the tournament ranked number four in the world, while the Raiders came in, obviously, unranked.

Rookie pitcher Charlie Donnelly was stunning through seven innings of work, allowing only one run and striking out five. Before the fifth inning, an Az-cz had not even reached second base, and it wasn't until the sixth that they got past second. The young starter received a standing ovation in the seventh as he left the field from all non-Az-cz fans. When he left, the score was 7-1.

The team's offense finally seemed to wake up against the toughest team they've faced yet. Prior to this game, the Raiders had only scored eight runs through three games. They lit up the scoreboard for seven alone today. They were led by a two-run home run from Isnaris in the first, along with solo shots from Cameron Xavier, Howie Bergan, Brock Templeton, Pat Verian, and Jimmy Oran. This barrage of home runs was over by the sixth inning, when the Raiders had built up a 7-0 lead. A sac fly by Az-cz brought the score to 7-1 in the 7th before Donnelly was pulled, more so for pitch count than performance.

Chris Togan was brought in in relief of Donnelly, and pitched out of the seventh inning and a perfect eighth. However, in the top of the ninth, he ran into trouble with the Az-cz lineup. Losing some control on his curveball, and not hitting his spots with his fastball, Togan had the bases loaded and allowed a base-clearing double to send the score to 7-4 with only one out. However, Danny Tartarus came in and ended any hopes of a rally with two strikeouts to end the game.

The team came out and celebrated like they did the last game against against Mallastarland. The Raiders have now beaten two top 10 teams this Classic after they were widely predicted to only win one game. However, they enter Round 2 of pool play on a three game win streak and look to continue their magic.

Lefty Will Powers will start their first round two game, no matter who it is against. Fellow lefty David Rolland, usually the team's fifth starter, is being kept in reserve just in case Peter Hampton, who tweaked his hamstring, is not able to go for Game 2. Powers looks to bounce back from a sub-par performance against Liventia in the first game, which was, ironically, the only game the Raiders have lost thus far.

"The unimportant stages are done"

"What does that mean?"

"Oh we went 4-0 in the group stage crushing everybody in our path but Qazox."

"What happened against Qazox?"

"16 inning thriller. We won 11-10."

"Frick! That's awful, horrible, unacceptable, unbelievable. That is among the worst things I have ever heard!"

"Uhh... Qazox ain't that bad and uh... we did win"

"But 16 innings! That was our only prep for the actual competition and it took forever to win. It's hard to win thrice and we're making it harder on ourselves"

"Oh don't worry about it, we still won the group and we beat them. Furthermore we match up excellently against every team, meaning we should go through quite simply. The only thing we should be worrying about is whether the Soccer Warriors can win the World Cup."

"No! Baseball is more important and we need a third win to cement ourselves as the best baseball team in the world (which we all know we are but it's still necessary to prove again and again and again). Hey question"

"What?"

"How is Az-Cz doing?"

"They barely escaped the group stages. 2-2 record and were in third place. They should be no threat"

"They shouldn't have been a threat when they beat us. You know what we need to do?"

"I have a bad feeling about this but what?"

"We should spy on all the other teams"

"That sounds like a terrible idea, you know we're only going to get caught with awful consequences for Milchama"

"Nah, we're the best in the world at spying."

"Ok but we have 11 other teams to spy on"

"Nah, we know about the two teams in our group"

"9 Teams"

"Wrong again, we only need to worry about Az-cz and the other undefeateds"

"4. Still a lot"

"It should be easy. We can have it done in two days and report to Hegeboom. It'd be genius"

"This is awful, trust me"

"No it's brilliant"

"Ugh, whatever, I'll do it. Just sign this saying I had nothing to do it when we get caught"

"We won't get caught"

"Shut up"

"Fine"

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, today was the final opening round games and quite possibly the major upset of the tourney so far, Xaristan defeated Az-cz to take home second place in group C.

With all the preliminary matches done, 12 of the twenty teams advance to the second phase of qualifying, while the other 8 will complete for the Bowl Award.

The 12 qualifers are:
4-0 teams: Zwangzug, Milchama, Liventia and taeshan.
3-1 teams: Corneliu, Qazox, Xaristan and Yafor 2
2-2 teams: Holy Marsh, Quakmybush, Az-cz and Prux.

Of the 12 remaining teams, they will be drawn into 4 groups of 3, and play a double round-robin. The groups will be as follows:


Group 1
Zwangzug
Yafor 2
Quakmybush

Group 2
Milchama
Corneliu
Az-cz

Group 3
Liventia
Qazox
Prux

Group 4
Taeshan
Xaristan
Holy Marsh


Qazox's schedule is:
MD6: @ Liventia
MD7: BYE
MD8: v. Prux
MD9: v. Liventia
MD10: BYE
MD11: @ Prux

Group 2 appears to be the toughest group, with Milchama and Az-cz, the only two nations to ever win the WBC battling it out with Corneliu, who never seems to catch a break in the WBC. Group 4 is possibly the softest group, as taeshan should not have any trouble with two newcomers in its group.

As for the Plate tourney, here are the brackets: (our picks in BOLD)

Bowl QF1: Mallatarsland v. Lovisa
Bowl QF2: The Indonesian States v. Detroit-Madison States
Bowl QF3: North Alskboz v. HaMedinat Yisrael
Bowl QF4: Cripistan v. Hjela-Artouusa

Bowl SF1: Bowl QF 1 v. Bowl QF 4 (Mallatarsland v. Cripistan)
Bowl SF2: Bowl QF 2 v. Bowl QF 3 (The Indonesian States v. HaMedinat Yisrael)

Bowl Final: Bowl SF 1 v. Bowl SF 2 (Mallatarsland v. The Indonesian States)


Programming note, QPSN2 will carry every 2nd round game live, while QSPNU will carry the Bowl tourney. QSPN will still carry every Qazox match live, with a 9:00pm replay on QSPNClassic.

We're see you on Monday for Liventia-Qazox. Have a good night.

Prux wins against Cripistan to advance to 2nd round. Ace Spade, who was the Game 1 loser against taeshan, wins allowing only 4 hits, all singles. Up next is unknown as the draw hasn't occured yet.

Schedule:

The Day before the day before the day before Yesterday: OFF
The Day before the day before Yesterday: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
The Day before Yesterday: Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
Yesterday: HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
Today: Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
Tomorrow: ??
The Day after Tomorrow: ??
The day after the Day after Tomorrow: ??
The day after the day after the Day after Tomorrow: ??

Bowl tournament draw

Bowl QF1: Mallatarsland v. Lovisa
Bowl QF2: The Indonesian States v. Detroit-Madison States
Bowl QF3: North Alskboz v. HaMedinat Yisrael
Bowl QF4: Cipristan v. Hjela-Artouusa

Bowl SF1: Bowl QF 1 v. Bowl QF 4
Bowl SF2: Bowl QF 2 v. Bowl QF 3

Bowl Final: Bowl SF 1 v. Bowl SF 2

Second group phase draw
Group 1
Zwangzug
Yafor 2
Quakmybush

Group 2
Milchama
Corneliu
Az-cz

Group 3
Liventia
Qazox
Prux

Group 4
Taeshan
Xaristan
Holy Marsh

MD6: 1v2, 3 bye
MD7: 1v3, 2 bye
MD8: 2v3, 1 bye
MD9: 2v1, 3 bye
MD10: 3v1, 2 bye
MD11: 3v2, 1 bye

Group winners qualify for semi finals, the other eight teams qualify for the plate tournament.
All matches played in Liventia. Team listed first is considered home team and bats in bottom innings.

(OOC: well at least i got one Bowl match-up right. and Group 2 is the G.O.D.)

The group draw was announced today for the second group play round and the purple knights of Taeshan face Xaristan, and Holy Marsh in an attempt to make it to the final Rounds. It seems pretty much expected that the winner of the group will be either Xaristan or Taeshan the two "better" teams.
Well the knights face Xaristan in there first match on day one which is the expected decider in the group, then the knights face Holy Marsh have a day of. Rinse lather and repeat from then on.

"BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS!"

"What happened?"

"Just look for yourself"

Group 2:
Milchama
Corneliu
Az-cz

"BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS! BASTARDS!"

"Agreed"

"This sucks beyond all comprehension"

"Actually that's a little bit of exaggeration but it does suck quite heavily"

"Yeh well let's look at our record against them"

"Hold on, first let's turn on the TV cameras"

"Fine"

*Cues camera, music, etc.*

"Hello and welcome to how we suck against Az-Cz I'm- Hey what was that?"

"And I'm - Yeh that was weird"

"Now the one question here is whether we should do research and I quite frankly am leaning towards a no. We wouldn't be responsible Milchamian otherwise"

"I completely agree, we need to respect the reputation of the Milchamian media and thus no research!"

"Ok well then in the first 3 baseball cups we lost each time against Az-cz, each time in outrounds and quite a few times in extra innings. I think our record is something like 1-5 or 1-6 against them."

"Yeh that sounds just about right"

"So then what are our chances of beating them this time?"

"Objectively, very good. They have been struggling the past 3 baseball cups and we're the top team in the world. However, every Milchamian is still deathly afraid that they could pull an upset out of nowhere and send us spiraling towards our gloom."

"That would be bad"

"Yes"

"As for our other opponents, Corneliu?"

"Eh, sacrificial lambs because this contest and group is all about the two champions. They'll finish 0-2 and probably be shut out along the way."

"I heard it was 4 games in the group"

"Do I look like I'm going to do research?"

"Good point, never mind."

"Well the point being can we finally beat the Robbers of Az-cz and you really have to say we can."

"No I really have to disagree, we're going down. We just can't beat them"

"NO FATALISM ON THIS SHOW!"

"Well how about that spy operation"

"Hey wait! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

*Lights cut out*

"You bastard!"

"Well f-ck you!"

*They exit*

*Cue inspiring theme music*

Good evening, Xaristan. I'm Cassius Klarit and you're watching XSN, the Xaristan Sports Network. And this, is, SportzZone.

*da na na, da na na*

The draws for the second round of pool play in the 6th World Baseball Classic were announced today, and Xaristan has been placed in Group 4, along with Taeshan, the third ranked team in the world, and Holy Marsh, another newcomer. Taeshan won Group D with a 4-0 record, and Holy Marsh finished third in Group A, bringing in a 2-2 record.

Despite their first round success, the Raiders are still not getting respect on the world stage. Rob Costas, from Qazox's QSPN, said that Group 4 was, quote, "possibly the softest group", and that Taeshan should, quote, "not have any trouble with the two newcomers in it's group" end quote.

Well, I hate to tell you Rob, but yours is the same station that said these Raiders would only go 1-3, losing to Detroit-Madison States, Liventia, and Az-cz, while only beating Mallastarland. Too bad only one of your wins and one of your losses was correct. Everyone thought that this team would roll over and play dead, but they came up, fought, and beat two teams ranked in the top ten in the world, something that ONLY Michama has done in this tournament. Oh, wait, what was that? Xaristan beat more quality opposition than Qazox did?

In all honesty, we love the people who think we can't do anything. We love being the underdog. It just makes it that more satisfying when we beat the pants off of you.

Now, for an objective analysis of Group 4, let's look at each team's record, starting with Taeshan. Taeshan beat Cipristian 6-0 in their first game of pool play. They beat Prux, the 11th ranked team in the world, 6-4. They beat Yafor II, the 8th ranked team in the world, 5-4. And finally, they beat Yisrael, an unranked team, 9-0.

Holy Marsh started off with a loss to 5th ranked Zwagzug, 7-2, and followed that up with a 2-1 victory over unranked Indonesian States. That win was followed by an upset victory over 12th ranked Lovosia, 5-2, before a loss to 2nd ranked Corneliu, 7-3.

Xaristan started with a loss to 7th ranked Liventia, 6-3, before going on a three game win streak, beating unranked Detroit-Madison States 2-0, 9th ranked Mallastarland 3-2, and 4th ranked Az-cz 7-3.

While Taeshan is the only team to come in with an undefeated record, they haven't faced as good as competition as Holy Marsh and Xaristan have (5th, 12th, 2nd and 7th, 9th, and 4th respectively). They enjoyed beating up on the unranked teams and struggled against the stiffer competition.

Without further adieu, our predictions (team in bold is our winner, with the score in parenthesis.)

Group 4
Taeshan
Xaristan
Holy Marsh

MD6: Taeshan v Xaristan 3-1
MD7: Taeshan v Holy Marsh 6-0
MD8: Xaristan v Holy Marsh 6-4
MD9: Xaristan v Taeshan 7-2
MD10: Holy Marsh v Taeshan 4-3
MD11: Xaristan v Holy Marsh 8-1

Xaristan moves on to the semi-finals of WBC 6.

HOLY MARSH EXCITED

The nation, which is on the edge of war, is excited to get positive news. While they expect to get thrashed and discarded quite readily, that was supposed to happen in the first round so many are hoping for another round of upsets.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and here are our staff picks for the 2nd round of qualifying.

ROB COSTAS:
Group 1: Zwangzug
Group 2: Milchama
Group 3: Liventia
Group 4: Taeshan

JUAN KRIK:
Group 1: Zwangzug
Group 2: Corneliu
Group 3: Qazox
Group 4: Xaristan

PAUL GAMMONS:
Group 1: Zwangzug
Group 2: Az-cz
Group 3: Liventia
Group 4: Xaristan

TOM KURTJIN:
Group 1: Zwangzug
Group 2: Milchama
Group 3: Liventia
Group 4: Taeshan

STAN DANFORD:
Group 1: Zwangzug
Group 2: Az-cz
Group 3: Qazox
Group 4: Taeshan

Here's an updated estimated timetable for the rest of the tournament:

MD6/Bowl QF: 1 April
MD7: 2 April
MD8/Bowl SF: 3 April
MD9: 4 April
MD10/Bowl Final: 5 April
MD11: 6 April
Cup and Plate draw: 7 April
Cup SF Gm 1/Plate QF: 8 April
Cup SF Gm 2/Plate SF: 9 April
Cup SF Gm 3*/Plate Final: 10 April
Cup Final Gm 1: 11 April
Cup Final Gm 2: 12 April
Cup Final Gm 3: 13 April
Cup Final Gm 4*: 14 April
Cup Final Gm 5*: 15 April

Bowl Quarter-finals
Mallatarsland 4 Lovisa 3 (extra innings)
The Indonesian States 5 Detroit-Madison States 1
North Alskboz 3 HaMedinat Yisrael 1
Cipristan 2 Hjela-Artouusa 1

Semi finals: Mallatarsland v Cipristan, The Indonesian States v North Alskboz

Matchday Six
Group 1: Zwangzug 6 Yafor II 5, Quakmybush bye
Group 2: Milchama 4 Corneliu 3, Az-cz bye
Group 3: Liventia 6 Qazox 11, Prux bye
Group 4: Taeshan 12 Xaristan 13, Holy Marsh bye

The Critically Unaclaimed Newspaper
What the frigin jew. I went to a f***ing baseball game yesterday,l and those damn Purple knights lost in a practical football storyline. The frigin awesome Tae team was up 12-0 with a comanding lead when Closer/Outfielder Socki Lewis f***ing blew it in the top of the Mother f***ing 9th. It was so F***ing gay. Oh my F***ing god i cant right about that F***ing game anymore.
By your F***ing Fan

This newspaper article has been rewritten for viewers under the age of 100 in Taeshan due to bad language.

THE FEDERATION TIMES
Section X: Sports

Taeshan Falls Apart In 9th, Raiders Win!
Raiders Score 13 in 9th to Pull Off Monster Upset

Liventia - One game after knocking off the 4th ranked team in the world, the Raiders went up against the 3rd in the Taeshan Purple Knights. After it looked like the Raiders were going to be blown out and decimated by the Knights, a combination of a pitching meltdown and a power surge led the Raiders to their fourth straight victory, winning 13-12.

Through eight innings, this game made it look like the Raiders were lucky to be at this stage and didn't even deserve to be playing on the same field as the Knights. They made errors, their pitching was mediocre at best, and they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

Starter Will Powers had his second bad outing, lasting only four innings and allowing seven runs on seventeen hits. Those who came in to try and stop the bleeding didn't do any better. Greg Olsen pitched through the seventh and allowed another four runs on eight hits, with two walks. Randy Yugnes came in and allowed a run in the eighth on a wild pitch after giving up a lead off triple. By the time the Raiders left the field for their last at-bats, they were down 12-0, with only two hits to their credit.

So confident was Taeshan manager Johny Nashville that he brought in outfielder Socki Lewis to pitch the top of the ninth. Victor Bruce notched only the third Raiders hit of the day, knocking a double into the right-center gap. Jimmy Oran singled, moving Bruce to third, and then Benjamin Isnaris walked, loading the bases. Howie Bergan, already the hero in the game against Mallastarland, then got underneath a fastball from Lewis and blew it over the fence in dead center for a grand slam. While jubilant, the Raiders knew the scoreboard still said they were down 12-4. Jacob Farthington singled on the next pitch, before Cameron Xerxes pounded a double to score him from first to make the game 12-5. Brock Templeton then recorded the team's first out of the inning with a blast that was caught at the wall.

Pat Verian, the rookie was up next, and sliced a triple into the right field corner, sliding in safe barely under the tag. Usar Davis lifted a bloop single into right field to score Verian, and the Knights' lead had been halved. Victor Bruce drove a line drive single through the gap between third and short to advance Davis to second for Jimmy Oran. The other rookie left his mark as well, lifting a curveball just over the fence in left to send the score to 12-9. At this point, Raiders manager called the bullpen and told them to start warming up Zoltan Loassr and Danny Tartarus.

Isnaris and Bergan were the next two up, and both copied each other. Isnaris launched a home run into the upper deck in right field, and Bergan followed suit, hitting nearly the same seat. After the back to back to back home runs, the Raiders were now down only 12-11. Farthington skipped a single up the middle to give the Raiders the tying run on first. The next batter up was Cameron Xerxes, who narrowly averted disaster for the Raiders. He hit a soft grounder to Taeshan shortstop Flean Diageo, who tossed it over to second baseman Zoey Menigen. Menigen bobbled the ball, however, allowing both Raiders players to slide in safely, for men on first and second with only one out.

The next play was even stranger than the first. Brock Templeton hit a blooper into center field that was chased after by second baseman Zoey Menigen. He didn't reach the ball, which dropped just beyond the reach of her outstretched glove. Farthington saw the ball drop and took off for third, sliding in safely. However, Xerxes didn't see the ball hit because Menigen's body blocked his view of it. When center fielder Riane Totalez saw both Templeton and Xerxes standing on first, she threw the ball to Diageo, forcing Xerxes out at second and leaving the Raiders with runners on first and third with two outs, still down 12-11, with rookie Pat Verian coming up to the plate.

Verian fell behind in the count 0-2, before working it back up to 3-2 on 13 pitches. Third base coach Joseph Templeton gave the signal for a hit and run, and Verian roped the next pitch down the line in right. It was only a single for Verian, but the hit scored Farthington easily and sent Templeton to third. The score was tied 12-12.

Usar Davis was up next and, on the first pitch, the Raiders executed the suicide squeeze play. Davis bunted the ball down the first base line as Templeton charged towards home plate. The pitcher ran to the ball and flipped it backwards towards catcher Freddy Myers. Templeton slid and Myers landed on top of him. The umpire pointed to the plate and gave a "safe" signal to the jubilation of the Raiders bench. Verian, standing on second, tried to use the commotion to his advantage, trying to stretch the bunt to third, but was thrown out, ending the inning. However, this was not before the Raiders had scored thirteen runs in the top of the 9th.

Harold Belfour, the Raiders manager, had shown great foresight in getting Tartarus to warm up. With all the momentum on their side, Tartarus struck out the first two batters before having the last one harmlessly pop out to second to end the inning. The win set off another celebration as the team stormed the field and celebrated near second where the ball was caught.

The Raiders are now 1-0 in the second round of the Classic, this one a double round robin. They have the next day off before hosting Holy Marsh on day three. Lefty David Rolland will start as usual second start Peter Hampton is still out with a tweaked groin.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen, and we've actually got a game-winning RBI for you!

Mind you, these teams aren't here because of their offense."

"Villikan leans in, gets the sign from Kirjai. Paints the outside corner but it's in there, 0 and 1 the count on Rubin."

"Okay, that was at the shoulders, but why is it the outside corner? Isn't there another outside corner just below?"

"I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of a reply. Burns it in there, and...driven deep, this could be-foul, curves beyond the right pole."

"Pulled foul by the lefty Rubin."

"Kirjai signals, the pitch comes in...sliced to the opposite field, lacing down the left-field line."

"0-2 remains the count."

"Villikan delivers once again, and this time it's-rifled over Jyolt. Carian will dive and make the catch. In shallow center so he'll throw directly to the plate, but Li's storming in and will-beat the tag! Zwangzug takes the lead, 6-5..."

And with a new phase of play we can forget whatever our last game was, it's time for an all-new wholly irrelevant statistic of the day. Presenting: highest decibel counts.

3) fifth inning-Jaridan's slicing double to right scores Juir from first
2) Rubin's first foul (preceding highlight)
1) unassisted double play from Mombota, who catches a low line drive, then tags Jarifar

We disclaim that none of this is able to cause hearing damage. Unless you turn your radio up really, really, loud...There are better stations than this one to listen to, let's face it.

Noteto players Zoey Menigten, and Zi Zo are females

Prux had to day off, while Liventia and Qazox slugged it out.

Schedule:

5 Days ago: OFF
4 Days ago: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
3 days ago: Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
2 dyas ago : HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
Yesterday: Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
Today: OFF
Tomorrow: Liventia
2 days from now: Qazox
3 days from now: OFF
4 days from now: Liventia
5 days from now: Qazox

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today began the 2nd round of the WBC. Joining me to break down the aftermath of Qazox' 11-6 win over the hosts, Liventia, are Stan Danford and Tom Kurtjin. Tom, was was the most impressive thing Qazox did today?"

"Rob, they overcame a bit of early difficulty as Liventia scored 3 runs in the first off of Samuel Ridge, whose splitter was largely ineffective. But thanks to a big day at the plate from Carver Thompson, who had a National team record 7 RBI's, they managed to rally for the win. I think this bodes well for the Pheonix, as it showed that they can overcome bad pitching and rely on an improved offense to win games."

"Let me interrupt you here, Tom. This just shows that Qazox needs better pitching, sure today they manged to score 11 runs, but they aren't going to do that every time. If they make it to the semis, Zwangzug, Milchama, Az-cz or taeshan will walk over them easily."

"Well put Stan. Tomorrow they have an off day, does the format favor Qazox at all? Stan?"

"Yes, to a point. It gives Ridge a chance to pitch in the 4th game if needed, but knowing this coach, he won't 'waste' Ridge."

"No it doesn't, Stan. A game, then a day off then 2 games, a day off then one last game can ruin momentum. It would have easier to have 3 groups of 4 and have the best 2nd place team, including 1st round results to advance."

"Interesting counter there, Tom. Now for today's box score."


BOX SCORE

Qazox 0 0 0 7 0 0 2 0 2 11 19 0
Liventia 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 6 15 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Liber 2, Thompson 2 (3), Felde (2)
3B: none
HR: Thompson 2
Steals: Redman
HBP: Morgan
CS: Pippen
RBI: Thompson 7 (8), Morgan, Redman 2 (8), Liber (4)
SF: none
Sac: none

Pitching Summary:
Ridge: 7 IP, 5 ER, 9 K, 3 BB, 11 Hits (W 2-0)
Ortega: 2 IP, 1 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, 4 Hits (Sv. 1)

WP: none
PB: Liber (3)
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:
Liventia First:
Cable walks.
Rosenstiehl singles to right. Cable to second.
Pittman strikes out.
Seidner homerun to right. Cable, Rosenstiehl and Seidener score.
Easter singles to left.
Allshouse flies out to right.
Shafer grounds into fielder's choice (6-4).
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 3-Qazox 0

Qazox Fourth:
Redman singles to right.
Liber doubles to center. Redman to third.
Thompson homerun to leftcenter. Redman, Liber and Thompson score.
Riggs walks.
Benjamin infield hit to short. Riggs to second.
Felde strikes out.
Taresi singles to right, Riggs to third, Benjamin to second.
Morgan hit by pitch. Riggs scores. Benjamin to third, Taresi to second.
Pippen flies out to second base.
Redman singles to center, Benjamin and Taresi score, Morgan to second.
Pitching change: Julian Brenstein in for Ted Schaeffer
Liber single to left, Morgan to third, Redman to second.
Thompson doubles to left, Morgan scores, Redman out advancing (7-5-2), Liber to third.
7 runs, 7 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 3-Qazox 7

Qazox Seventh:
Pitching change: Nicky James in for Julian Brenstein
Liber singles to right.
Thompson homerun to right. Liber and Thompson score.
Riggs singles to left.
Benjamin grounds into double play (3-6-3), Riggs out at second.
Felde flies out to right.
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 3-Qazox 9

Liventia Seventh:
Rohtin doubles to right.
Wells singles to left. Rohtin scores.
Cable doubles to center, Wells scores.
Rosenstiehl strikes out.
Pittman walks.
Seidner lines into double play (4 unassisted), Cable out at second.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 5-Qazox 9

Liventia Eighth:
Pitching change: Ortega in for Ridge
Easter strikes out.
Allshouse homerun to left. Allshouse scores.
Shafer grounds out to first.
Rohtin singles to left.
Rohtin advances to second on Liber's passed ball.
Jarvis Wells flies out to right.
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 6-Qazox 9

Qazox Ninth:
Redman singles to right.
Redman steals second (no throw).
Liber doubles to right. Redman scores.
Thompson doubles to center. Liber scores.
Riggs strikes out.
Benjamin files out to right. Thompson to third.
Felde grounds out to first.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 6-Qazox 11

Matchday Seven
Group 1: Zwangzug 8 Quakmybush 5, Yafor 2 bye
Group 2: Milchama 6 Az-cz 2, Corneliu bye
Group 3: Liventia 10 Prux 8 (extra innings), Qazox bye
Group 4: Taeshan 10 Holy Marsh 8 (extra innings), Xaristan bye

The critically Unaclaimed Newspaper
Knights bounce back and beat Holy Marsh
Last night in a stunning game in Liventia the Purple Knights baseball team defeated the unranked Holy Marsh after shockingly losing a game to Xaristan. The knights would win the game 10-8 in extra innings.
The first 3 innings were scoreless till knights Lefty blew the game out by giving up 8 runs to the Holy Marsh. These groups of runs in just a few innings have cost the knights dearly in the games earlier in the classic, but not this time.
The knights Rightfielder Socki lewis would put up a big 3 spot on the board for the knights,in the 4th, by hitting a three run homer with Zi Zo, and Flean Diageo on base. Then later on a changeup pitch by a Holy Marsh pitcher Lewis would hit a Grand slam in the 7th. Diageo, Zo, and Tadihito Shakiri were on base.
In the eigth Diageo would get his own homer of a horribley straight fastball by the knew Marsh pitcher. Reliever victor frun would then turn the Holy Marsh team down in the bottom of the ninth.
The game went to extra innings. 4 actually. In the 13th inning yet again Socki Lewis would hit a Homer, with Diageo on base witch would lead the knights to victory. Lewis would then close the game out for his first save of the classic.

Prux lost to the hosts on a 2-run walk off ground-rule double in the bottom of the 11th as Jack Club blew a 3-run lead in the 8th and Jack Hart lost it in the 11th. Up next is Qazox, whose offense has been amongst the best in the WBC.

Schedule:

6 Days ago: OFF
5 Days ago: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
4 days ago: Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
3 days ago: HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
2 days ago: Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
Yesterday: OFF
Today: Liventia LOST 8-10 11 innings (0-1)
Tomorrow: Qazox
2 days from now: OFF
3 days from now: Liventia
4 days from now: Qazox

Bowl tournament
Semi finals
Mallatarsland 5 Cipristan 1
The Indonesian States 4 North Alskboz 1

Matchday Eight
Yafor II 7 Quakmybush 2, Zwangzug bye
Corneliu 8 Az-cz 4, Milchama bye
Qazox 12 Prux 3, Liventia bye
Xaristan 7 Holy Marsh 4, Taeshan bye

THE FEDERATION TIMES
Section X: Sports

Raiders Win 5th Straight, Down Holy Marsh 7-4
One Swing of the Bat Blows Game Open for Raiders

Liventia - The Raiders' magical run through the World Baseball Classic continued today as the Xaristan national team beat the Holy Marsh National Team 7-4 in the second round of pool play.The Raiders are now 2-0 in Group 4 and will "host" Taeshan in their next game. Taeshan is 1-1 while Holy Marsh fell to 2-0.

The Raiders faced something new for the first time in this game: a female pitcher. The Holy Marsh side sent out RHP Samantha Casen, their only female member, to pitch against the Raiders. Bringing new meaning to the phrase, "you throw like a girl", Casen led the Marsh League with a 1.92 ERA last season.

Across from her was almost the exact opposite. David Rolland, usually the Radiers' fifth starter, got the call in place of the injured Peter Hampton, who is still day-to-day with a tweaked groin. In two games in WBC 2, Rolland pitched 8 1/3 innings, allowing 11 earned runs on 17 hits with 12 strikeouts and six walks for an ERA of 11.88.

However, Rolland, the lefty, seemed to match up well against Casen. Through three innings, both had only allowed one hit. The Raiders struck first in the top of the fourth as Jacob Farthington scored on a sac fly by Benjamin Isnaris to make the game 1-0. No further damage was done however.

Both pitchers pitched a perfect bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth. When Holy Marsh came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth, they were finally able to get to Rolland, who had only given up one hit to this point. With Raul Escher on base and only one man out, Kenny Saser connected on a high fastball, belting it over the center field wall to give Holy Marsh a 2-1 lead. No other runs were scored as the teams headed for the sixth.

The Raiders responded in the top half of the inning, however. Howie Bergan lofted a hanging knuckleball pitch over the left field fence, tying the game at two. The Raiders seemed to threaten again as the next two batters, Victor Bruce and Pat Verian, each reached base safely, but Casen struck out Davis, Farthington and Oran in order to retire the side.

Steve Hassleton came in to spell Rolland to start the sixth. With just his first pitch, Hassleton watched Paul Williams drive a ball deep into the right field corner. He was easily going to make a triple, but was waved around as rookie outfielder Pat Verian bobbled the ball. The throw went to the left of Bergan and Williams was able to score an in-the-park home run to make the score 3-2. Hassleton was able to use his good mix of off speed pitches to strike out Shane Lorn and Ryan Merianlund, and was able to get Stan Casen to ground out to second.

Knowing their time was running out, the Raiders came out firing in the top of the seventh. Isnaris knocked a double and Cameron Xerxes slapped a single to send him to third and make Casen head for the showers. Her replacement was Jose Lecas. He struggled with his famed control with first batter Howie Bergan, walking him on five pitches. He then made a fatal mistake with Brock Templeton, leaving a belt-high fastball on the inside corner of the plate. Templeton turned on it, and, with one swing of the bat, the Raiders were up 6-3. An out from Bruce followed, and a single from Verian after that, before a double play off the bat of Davis ended the Raiders' hopes of extending their lead.

Both teams were scoreless in their next half innings.

Zoltan Loassr, the Radiers set-up man, came in to pitch the bottom of the 8th. After striking out two, Paul Williams launched his second home run on the contest, bringing the Holy Marsh team to within two at 6-4. However, Lorn lined out to third to end the threat.

In the top of the ninth, the Raiders struck one last time, hoping to put the game out of reach. After Farthington struck out, Jimmy Oran, who had been having an awful day at the plate, lined a solo shot over the left field wall to make it 7-4. Another single by Isnaris followed, but Xerxes grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.

Holy Marsh had one final chance against Danny Tartarus, who has been stellar thus far in the Classic. That did not change this game. Two lazy fly balls and a high heat strikeout of Taylor Derscon and the game was over. With a triumphant yell and pump of his fist, Tartarus bounded off the mound and into the arms of his teammates.

Rookie Vince Dredor will get the start against the Taeshan Purple Knights in the Raiders' third game of their double round robin. Dredor pitched six innings against Mallastardland, allowing two runs and striking out seven.

Manager Harold Belfour was asked about the condition of starting pitcher Peter Hampton and said, "He won't be back this Classic as a starter. He can push off, but is having problems going for long periods of time. We're resting him right now, and he'll be ready to come in from the bullpen next round, wherever we are." We asked who would come in as a starting pitcher should Rolland struggle or another starter get injured, Belfour did not hesitate. "Stanley Parsons, no question about it."

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen, and it's...the PM."

"Zwangzug set to take on Quakmybush."

"I'd rather not."

"Take them on? They're twice as low-ranked as Zwangzug, and don't even have a roster-makes things tough for the announcers, but the Zebras should win."

"No, I mean I'd rather not quak your bush. Lucky quak isn't a transitive verb, as far as I know."

"I don't even have a bush. I live in an apartment. I have a window box."

"..."

The game-winning RBI:

"...two and two the count, the pitch comes in. Fallopian swings, makes contact high on the bat, poked just beyond short for a lazy single. Shortstop backpedaling but Rubin will slide in and that makes it 6-3 Zwangzug."

Today's statistic of the day: most consecutive batters without a ball hit into play*

"Shiomi delivers, the Quakmybush DH swinging away-grounded back to the mound, Shiomi throws over to first for the out. First ball hit into play since Jingle's hit last inning."

Er, that's four. Yesterday's statistic of the day (decibel maximum):

"...connected by Klaus Rifkin, that's a deep drive to right-center, lots of altitude but maybe not enough to-no! Over the fence! Four-two Zwangzug after that Rifkin moon shot!"

(*OOC: inspired by a Cubs announcer's musings today)

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox took control of Group 2, with a 11-3 win over Prux. Brian Meggaers, pitching on 3 days rest, throw 6 perfect innings, and had a no-hitter until the 8th, when Heath Barr broke it up with a double to right. Meggars started the 9th, but allowed 2 more hits and was pulled. The win sets the Pheonix against Liventia tomorrow. If Qazox wins, then they advance to the semifinals for the first time since WBC 3."

Now for today's box score."


BOX SCORE


Prux 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 5 1
Qazox 1 0 3 2 1 0 4 0 x 11 20 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Riggs
3B: Morgan
HR: Liber (2), Riggs
Steals: Pippen 4 (7)
HBP: none
CS: none
RBI: Thompson (9), Liber 3 (7), Morgan (2), Pippen 2 (8), Riggs 3 (4), Taresi (2)
SF: Thompson, Taresi
Sac: none

Pitching Summary:
Meggars: 8 IP, 2 ER, 12 K, 1 BB, 3 Hits (W 1-0)
Ericsen: 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 2 Hits
Meggars pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.

WP: none
PB: none
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox First:
Pippen singles to left.
Pippen steals second.
Redman walks.
Pippen steals third.
Liber strikes out.
Thompson flies out to right. Pippen scores.
Riggs flies out to center.
1 runs, 1 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Prux 0-Qazox 1

Qazox Third:
Morgan singles to right.
Pippen singles to left.
Redman strikes out.
Liber homerun to center. Morgan, Pippen and Liber score.
Thompson strikes out.
Riggs singles to right.
Benjamin flies out to right.
3 runs, 4 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Prux 0-Qazox 4

Qazox Fourth:
Felde walks.
Taresi flies out to right.
Morgan triples to left. Felde scores.
Pippen singles to left. Morgan scores.
Pippen steals second.
Redman grounds out (5-3).
Liber strikes out.
2 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Prux 0-Qazox 6

Qazox Fifth:
Thompson flies out the center.
Riggs homerun to right. Riggs scores.
Pitching Change: Jack Spade in for Ace Club
Benjamin grounds out to second.
Felde strikes out.
1 runs, 1 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Prux 0-Qazox 7

Qazox Seventh:
Redman singles to right.
Liber reaches on Plenty's throwing error. Redman to third, Liber to second.
Thompson strikes out.
Riggs doubles to right. Redman and Liber score.
Benjamin walks.
Felde singles to right. Riggs to third, Benjamin to second.
Taresi flies out to right. Riggs scores. Benjamin to third.
Morgan walks. Felde to second.
Pitching Change:Jack Club in for Jack Spade
Pippen singles to right. Benjamin scores, Felde out at home advancing, Morgan to third.
Pippen steals second.
Redman flies out to center.
4 runs, 4 hits, 2 LOB, 1 Errors Prux 0-Qazox 11

Prux Ninth:
Whatchamacallit doubles to right.
Plenty Homerun to left. Whatchamacallit and Plenty score.
Pitching change:Ericsen in for Meggars
Subsitutions: Carre in for Liber; Daevis in for Taresi.
Ike singles to right.
Ruth doubles to center. Ike scores.
C. Barr strikes out.
H. Barr flies out to left.
Henry grounds out to short.
3 runs, 4 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Prux 3-Qazox 11

Prux got stomped by Qazox 11-3 as Ace Club got rocked.

Schedule:
A week ago: OFF
6 Days ago: Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
5 days ago: Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
4 days ago: HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
3 days ago: Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
2 days ago: OFF
Yesterday: Liventia LOST 8-10 11 innings (0-1)
Today: Qazox LOST 3-11 (0-2)
Tomorrow: OFF
2 days from now: Liventia
3 days from now: Qazox

Matchday Nine
Yafor II 4 Zwangzug 6, Quakmybush bye
Zwangzug win Group 1 and qualify for the semi-finals. Yafor 2 and Quakmybush will take part in the plate tournament.
Corneliu 9 Milchama 11, Az-cz bye
Milchama win Group 2 and qualify for the semi-finals. Corneliu and Az-cz will take part in the plate tournament.
Qazox 8 Liventia 7, Prux bye
Qazox win Group 3 and qualify for the semi-finals. Liventia and Prux will take part in the plate tournament.
Xaristan 6 Taeshan 8 (extra innings), Holy Marsh bye
Group 4 table:
TEAM PL W L GB RS RA DIF
Taeshan 3 2 1 -- 30 27 +3
Xaristan 3 2 1 -- 26 24 +2
Holy Marsh 2 0 2 1.5 12 17 -5

RA"Folks as you8 may know in an earlier game between the Xaristan squad and your Purple knights, We were defeated. Today we have a chance to defeat them".
Ballpark Announcer".Ladies and Gentleman Please do not remove your hats, and take those smiles of your faces. It's time for the Xaristan National Anthem".
There anthem is played.
BA" Please put your hands in your pockets, and jump up, and down.Smile."
The Taeshani anthem,"All Hail" is played by the band Reo Speedwagon part Deux.
Later during the 8th inning...
"Put your rally caps on fans, the Purple Knights are down to Xaristan 6-1 after last innings homer by Right Fielder Socki Lewis. The ball is pitched to Flean Diageo. Wood hits ball. Single to short right Field. Up next is catcher Freddy Myers. Myers crcks the first pitch threw th middle, Another single. Zi Zo's up. Triple of the wall, to runs score. Zoey Menigen, and Fier Henris are walked by the rattled Xaristan pitcher. Up next with the bases loaded Riane Totalez. The pitch the swing.Sweeeeeeeeet Spot. It's outtaaaaaaaaaa Hereeeeeee. Purple Knights tie the game up in the 8th."
Later in game.
"Its the tenth inning, Here in Liventia. Tie score at six between Taeshan, and Xaristan. The xaristan pitcher is.... He's known for his strikeouts with his sliding curve. Socki Lewis up to open the inning. He doubles off the wall. Up next is the little man at first Tadihito Shakiri. It's a deep curve.Strike one. A hanging slider. Strike two. He throws another hard curve. Shakiri turs on it. Itys going, going, gone. Down goes Xaristan, Down goes Xaristan. Knights Win, Knights Winnnnnnnnnnnnnn."
" In there next match the knights face the Holy Marsh team who is bound to lose the group, the Holy Marsh team plays both aforementioned teams in a spot to nock either or out. See ya next time."

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen, which in appreciation of the defensive tendencies of today's opponents has chosen to forgo a replay of the game-winning RBI (two-run double by Rubin, if you care) and instead present three plays chosen utterly at random.

"Summers winds and delivers, lazy changeup there, Judaron-swings too late! Strike three...

"...Carian batting from the left."

"Swung on at the first offering and grounded to short, Li flips to second for the force...

...The pitch from Xiarin. Longbottom pops it up behind the plate, almost looks like a foul tip there, but Kirjai settles under it and makes the catch."

Today's statistic of the day: greatest shift applied. This was, unsurprisingly, on the Zebras-when the Firebugs only have two batters in the lineup with dominant handedness, Reynolds doesn't suspect that they're very prone to pulling the ball.

"Jarridan shading left a couple steps as Mombota steps up."

Yesterday's statistic of the day: most consecutive batters without a ball hit into play. Following Xiarin striking out Barry and Utopia striking out Jyolt and Juir:

"Jarridan digs in, blurs the boundaries of the batter's box almost beyond recognition."

"Alliteration aside-"

"Says who?"

"You're just doing this to antagonize me now. Utopia delivers, and Jarridan-smacks a single over Bianca Thiesen's head."

But Valderrana popped to Rifkin, assuring Zwangzug's qualification to the Cup. And almost more pertinently, at least two more radiocasts from us.

Insert diabolical laughter here.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox clinched Group 3 and earned themselves a spot in the Final Four as they held off a tough challenge from the hosts Liventia 8-7. Qazox jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 3, but Liventia struck back on Seidner's grand slam in the 4th and a pair of runs in the 7th to take the lead 6-5. But Qazox answered back with 3 in the seventh, and despite allowing a run in the ninth, Tyrone Pitts held on for the crucial save. Now the focus is on the next round, despite having one game remaining on the schedule against Prux. Can the Pheonix win the tourney they Founded? (ooc: I didn't start this, but basically took over the 1st one when the real founder couldn't do it.)

Now for today's box score."


BOX SCORE


Liventia 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 1 7 13 0
Qazox 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 x 8 13 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Daevis 2, Riggs (2), Washington
3B: Tersely
HR: None
Steals:
HBP: none
CS: none
RBI: Daevis 4, Tersely, Morgan (3), Riggs (5), Thompson (10)
SF: Morgan
Sac: none

Pitching Summary:
Forde: 6 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 10 Hits
Thurston: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 2 Hits (W 1-0)
Pitts: 1 IP, 1 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 1 Hit (Sv. 3)

HBP: Forde (Pittman in 4th)
WP: Forde (2)
PB: none
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox First:
Washington strikes out.
Redman singles to right.
Liber fouls out to catcher.
Thompson walks. Redman to second.
Riggs singles to left. Redman to third, Thompson to second.
Daevis doubles to center. Redman and Thompson score, Riggs to third.
Benjamin strikes out.
2 runs, 3 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 0-Qazox 2

Qazox Second:
Felde singles to left.
Tersely triples to center. Felde scores.
Morgan sac-fly to center. Tersely scores.
Washington flies out to right.
Redman grounds out to third.
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 0-Qazox 4

Qazox Third:
Liber singles to left.
Thompson strikes out.
Liber advances to second on Kieferfer's Wild Pitch.
Benjamin walks.
Riggs doubles to right. Liber scores, Benjamin out advancing to home (9-6-2).
Felde flies out to left.
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 0-Qazox 5

Liventia Fourth:
Cable walks.
Cable steals second.
Rosenstiehl singles to left. Cable to third
Pittman hit by pitch. Rosenstiehl to second.
Seidner Homerun to right. Cable, Rosenstiehl, Pittman and Seidner score.
Easter flies out to center.
Allshouse strikes out.
Shafer groundsout to short.
4 runs, 2 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 4-Qazox 5

Liventia Seventh:
Easter singles to left.
Easter advances to second on Forde's Wild Pitch.
Allshouse singles to right. Easter scores.
Shafer doubles to left. Allshouse to third.
Rohtin sac-fly to center. Allshouse scores.
Pitching Change: Thurston in for Forde
Pinch Hitter: Mackendoer in for Wells
Mackendoer strikes out.
Cable flies out to right.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 6-Qazox 5

Qazox Seventh:
Morgan singles to center.
Washington doubles to left. Morgan to third.
Redman strikes out.
Liber walks.
Thompson singles to right. Morgan scores, Washington to third, Liber to second.
Riggs strikes out.
Daevis doubles to center. Washington and Liber score, Thompson to third.
Pitching change: Wilford McMichaels in for David Kieferfer
Felde fouls out to third.
3 runs, 4 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 6-Qazox 8

Liventia Ninth:
Pitching Change: Pitts in for Thurston
Easter homerun to left.
Allshouse groundsout to short.
Mackendoer strikes out.
Cable strikes out.
1 runs, 1 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors Liventia 7-Qazox 8

Bowl Final
Mallatarsland 4 The Indonesian States 1

Matchday Ten
Quakmybush 4 Zwangzug 11, Yafor 2 bye
Az-cz 4 Milchama 6 (extra innings), Corneliu bye
Prux 2 Liventia 6, Qazox bye
Holy Marsh 6 Taeshan 11, Xaristan bye
Holy Marsh is eliminated and will play in the plate tournament. Xaristan must win by seven runs or more over Holy Marsh to qualify for the semi-finals.

Yeah baby. The team beat Holy Marshg 11-6. We practically are in the semis, but somehow Holy Marsh must beat the spread by only losing by 6. Go holy
Marsh.

"We're in dude!"

"Yeh!"

"And more importantly, we beat Az-cz!!!!!!!!!!!"

"WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!"

"WE'RE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD AND NOTHING IS STOPPING US!!!!!!!!!"

"Yeh!"

"In the semis, winning everything in sight. This is among the most excellent things ever"

"I know man, it's like we are the walruses of this cup. Nobody can stop us. We are still undefeated and we didn't even need to spy"

"Ummm..."

"Don't tell me"

"Well, here's this film of Zwangzug's practice. Apparently they like to turn double plays. It really doesn't do much, apparently all tactics in baseball are the same"

"Uhhh... yeh. The only thing would be the signs. Do you have those? Feck! I shouldn't be encouraging you."

"Well... no. They didn't go over signs. So yeh, we learned nothing"

"You're so stupid! I told you it was a bad idea. Now we might get busted and we learned nothing. At least you could of filmed the football"

"I did and they sucked at it"

"The Zwangzug national football team? They're top 20 in the world"

"No the baseball team, they were quite bad"

"Why were they playing football?"

"I have no idea, I couldn't hear anything but it was ridiculous."

"Ok then"

"So then do you understand that spying is bad?"

"No, spying key to hege but I do know now that it's useless for baseball. Don't worry I'll only spy sports like rugby, football, football, and kleptochase from now on"

"Sounds good"

"Thank you"

"...but I'm not gonna allow that many baserunners anyway!" teased Charles McGuffin.

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Reynolds. "Li, Thiesen, you have to know when to cover, you should have learned that in like fourth grade."

Bianca and Pete nodded, bored.

"Longbottom, Hanover, you too. Okay, next up-hey, what's that?"

The Zebras squinted into the bleachers. "A camera," decreed Aaron Mombota.

"Liventia TV carrying the semifinals?" suggested Max Frederickson.

"Is Zwangzug TV carrying the semifinals?" Grover Funct cynically asked.

"Probably," Reynolds dismissed. "But just in case, let's throw whatever it is off the scent. You've earned a rest, go have fun."

"This means no running drills?" exulted Colin Gutenberg. "I always thought that was a stupid idea."

"We could play football." Zeke Fallopian nodded towards a conveniently-placed football in the dugout.

"Why is there a football in the dugout?" asked Clint Barry.

Zeke inspected the logo. "Fukudome Football Equipment, a Milchamian (not Milchaman!) group. Made in Yafor 2."

"Whatever." Eric Steen scooped it up. "Pitchers versus normal people?"

"I call goalie," called Mitt Amadeo.

Pete beat Alexei Shiomi in the kickoff and took off downfield quickly. Very quickly. So quickly that he left the ball behind for Larry Chicago to pass to Veasna Blago. Blago passed to Gutenberg. Gutenberg learned quickly exactly which code of football was to be played after attempting a quarterback-style pass to Russell Coleman.

Klaus Rifkin kicked the ball far out of play. McGuffin wound up with it and dribbled all the way downfield. Valerie Dvorak took possession just in time for an own goal.

But the position players fought back. The overall defensive nature of the team when it was doing what it was supposed to was completely forgotten as they played carefreely. When Utopia's hat trick cut the lead to 23-19, it was time to call it a night.

Hosting note: MD11 and the Plate and Cup draw will both be held on April 7.

Matchday Eleven
Quakmybush 2 Yafor II 3, Zwangzug bye
Az-cz 7 Corneliu 5, Milchama bye
Prux 3 Qazox 21, Liventia bye (yes, that's Qazox twenty-one. Not a typo.)
Holy Marsh 6 Xaristan 7, Taeshan bye

Cup draw

Semi finals:
Zwangzug v. Taeshan
Qazox v. Milchama

Plate draw
The plate draw was seeded by overall performance from Matchday One to eleven. The seeds are as follows:

1. Liventia 6-2
1. Xaristan 6-2
3. Yafor 2 5-3
4. Corneliu 4-4
5. Az-cz 3-5
6. Quakmybush 2-6
6. Prux 2-6
6. Holy Marsh 2-6

Any team above .500 was not drawn to face another .500 or better team.

QF1: Liventia v. Quakmybush
QF2: Xaristan v. Az-cz
QF3: Yafor 2 v. Prux
QF4: Corneliu v. Holy Marsh

SF1: QF1 v. QF3
SF2: QF2 v. QF4

what a shocker that we, zwangzug, and the Milchamans made it to the final four for the third straight time. Qazox is back aparently, but drew Milchama which must suck.
P.S Thank god that holy Marsh only Lost to Xaristan by 1.

Prux lost to Liventia 2-6, then were annihilated by Qazox 21-3... 21-3, the worst beatdown in WBC history.

Schedule:
OFF
Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
OFF
Liventia LOST 8-10 11 innings (0-1)
Qazox LOST 3-11 (0-2)
OFF
Liventia LOST 2-6 (0-3)
Qazox LOST 3-21
Yafor 2

(ooc: I think i set 2 records in that game: MOST RUNS and largest victory margin.. and in the Rp, I'll set 2 or three more)

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox set numerous WBC records. First, the largest margin of victory, as they just laid into Prux 21-3. That's not a typo, 21-3. The second record is the 21 runs scored, the third record the team got was the 33 hits. The 4th record is the 16 runs scored in the first inning, which not only a record for an inning, but almost on its own broke the record for most runs in a game. The 5th record is the 10 homeruns, including hitting back-to-back-to-back homeruns, not once, but twice in the first, on the way to a record 7 in that inning. Also a cycle was hit by Brian Pippen, who also manged to become the first player in WBC history to get 3 hits in an inning. Also the first 11 batter reached base, setting yet another record. A total of 9 team or individual records were set during the game.

Micheal Nieves pitched a complete game, despite allowing 9 hits and only srtiking out 2 batters. The bullpen welcomed the nice break, as they had been worn a bit thin over the past week.

And now for the possible bad news, the team now has to face the only team to have beaten them this tourney so far, Milchama in the semifinals. Can this offensive expolsion continue and carry the Pheonix into their 2nd title match? or did they spend all of the magic against Prux?

Now for today's box score."

BOX SCORE

Qazox 16 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 21 33 0
Prux 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 9 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Riggs (3), Thompson (4), Pippen (5), Mason
3B: Pippen
HR: Redman (3), Liber 2 (4), Thompson (3), Felde, Taresi, Morgan, Riggs (2), Pippen, Daevis
Steals:
HBP: none
CS: none
RBI: Redman 2 (10), Liber 3 (10), Thompson 2 (12), Felde 3 (7), Taresi (3), Morgan (4), Riggs 3 (8), Pippen 4 (10), Daevis (5), Washington
SF: Liber
Sac: none

Pitching Summary:
Nieves: 9 IP, 3 ER, 2 K, 5 BB, 9 Hits (W 1-0)

HBP: none
WP: Nieves 2 (4)
PB: none
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox First:
Pippen singles to left.
Redman Homerun to left. Pippen and Redman score.
Liber Homerun to right. Liber scores.
Thompson Homerun to left. Thompson scores.
Riggs doubles to center.
Benjamin singles to right. Riggs to third.
Felde Homerun to center. Riggs, Benjamin and Felde score.
Taresi Homerun to right. Taresi scores.
Pitching change:Jack spade in for Ace Spade
Morgan Inside-the-park Homerun to left. Morgan scores.
Pippen triples to right.
Redman walks.
Liber flies out to right. Pippen scores.
Thompson doubles to center. Redman to third.
Riggs Homerun to right. Redman, Thompson and Riggs score.
Felde strikes out.
Taresi singles to right.
Morgan singles to left. Taresi to second.
Pippen doubles to right. Taresi and Morgan score.
Redman infield single to third.
Pitching change: Jack Club in for Jack Spade
Liber singles to center. Pippen to third, Redman to second.
Thompson singles to left. Pippen scores, Redman out at third (7-2-5-2-6) advancing, Liber to second.
16 runs, 18 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors -Qazox 16- Prux 0

Qazox Third:
Taresi singles to right.
Morgan strikes out.
Pippen homerun to left. Taresi and Pippen score.
Redman flies out to center.
Liber Homerun to right. Liber scores.
Pitching Change: Jack Hart in for Jack Club
Thompson singles to center.
Tersely Pinch-hitting for Riggs
Tersely singles to right.
Benjamin flies out to left.
3 runs, 5 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors -Qazox 19- Prux 0

Qazox Fourth:
Felde flies out to right.
Daevis pinch-hitting for Taresi
Daevis Homerun to left-center. Daevis scores.
Mason pinch-hitting for Morgan
Mason doubles to center.
Washington pinch-hitting for Pippen
Washington singles to left. Mason scores.
Yardley pinch-hitting for Redman
Yardley walks. Washington to second.
Carre pinch-hitting for Liber.
Carre singles to right. Washington to third, Yardley to second.
Thompson grounds into double play (5-2-3)
2 runs, 4 hits, 2 LOB, 0 Errors -Qazox 21- Prux 0

Prux Sixth:
Mr. Goodbar walks.
Clark Barr walks. Goodbar to second.
Heath Barr Doubles to center, Goodbar and C. Barr score.
O. H. Henry singles to left, H. Barr scores.
Tob Lerone grounds into double play (6-4-3)
Whatchamacallit flies out to right.
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 LOB, 0 Errors -Qazox 21- Prux 3

Plate Quarter-Finals
Liventia 4 Quakmybush 2
Xaristan 6 Az-cz 4
Yafor II 6 Prux 7 (extra innings)
Corneliu 9 Holy Marsh 5

Semi final draw:
Liventia v Prux
Xaristan v Corneliu

Cup Semi-Finals Game One
Zwangzug 11 Taeshan 12 (extra innings)
Taeshan leads three-game series 1-0.
Qazox 11 Milchama 10 (extra innings)
Qazox leads three-game series 1-0.

The Majorally Unaclaimed Newspaper
Knights Defeat Zug's In Extra Innings
Last night the Purple Knights faced the Zwangzug team, who made it to the championship of the last World Baseball classic in the first of 3 games to be played for a chance to be in the Championship. As like the WBC's of the last 2years the Knights won the opening game.
The Knights would be in a close one. They were down 1 going into the ninth 8-9. Socki Lewis who had grand Slammed on two earlier occasions with Zi Zo, Zoey Menigen, and Flean Diageo. This time with only Diageo on base he was able to slam it home to take the lead. Though the zug's tied it in the bottom of the inning.
In the 11th the game was still tied at 10-10. When Diageo hit a two run homer with only Zo on base. In the bottom of the inning the Zwangzug team scored a run, but could not tie or win the ballgame.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen. Well, maybe you're not in Zwischen. And the announcers aren't either. But the people who write these call tags are. Actually, they're home with their families in the suburbs because it's seven at night...

"I wonder if it wouldn't be in Utopia's benefit to aim on the fringes of the strike zone, so Lewis doesn't have much to go after. The way he's been playing from the bottom of the lineup, is he only eighteen?, even a walk could be better than hitting into play."

"...Please tell me you're joking."

"No."

"Have you never heard of the intentional walk?"

"What's that, where you walk someone intentionally?"

"...Yes. Yes. It is."

"But...that's...it doesn't seem right, somehow..."

"You can have tactical complexity or stupid idealism, not both, and he's put it over the fence so the Purple Knights take the lead."

"The Purple Knights?"

"Yes, that's Taeshan..."

"...will probably be satisfied with just one run for now, the lead's gone so many places today."

"Yes, that's right, and the lead story on the news today will be...delayed."

"What?"

"Li just laid down a perfect bunt. Mombota's sliding in, he's safe, so we could go to extra innings."

"But what if Zwangzug scores again?"

"Then we won't..."

"...Reynolds wearing through the bullpen, Russell Coleman in now."

"Diageo looking for his fifth hit of the night."

"Swung on and hit to the opposite field, way deep-and that's out of here. 12-10 Taeshan now..."

"...Frede trying to close it out for Taeshan."

"He winds and delivers, Rifkin laces it into right field! Rubin running all out, he'll come around from first and it's 12-11."

"It's been a wild game, if Rifkin can come in it'll get even wilder..."

"...and a wild pitch from Frede! Oh, my-Rifkin advances to third. Frede gets the sign from Myers, shakes it off, gets another sign, shakes it off too, little party on the pitcher's mound. Myers heading back, the pitch is-popped weakly to second by Fallopian, Menigen will catch it."

"And that's your final score-Taeshan 12, Zwangzug 11."

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox and Milchama played yet another Classic also in extra innings, but this time settled in only 11. And unlike the last meeting, Qazox came out on top 11-10 and leads the best of three series 1-0.

Now for today's box score."

BOX SCORE


Qazox 0 2 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 11 21 0
Milchama 3 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 10 17 0



Batting Summary:
2B: Benjamin, Pippen (6), Taresi, Riggs (4)
3B: Benjamin
HR: Redman (4), Thompson (4), Liber (5)
Steals:
HBP: none
CS: none
RBI: Benjamin 3 (4), Redman 2 (12), Morgan (5), Pippen (11), Thompson (13), Riggs 2 (10), Liber (10)
SF: Liber
Sac: none

Pitching Summary:
Ridge: 5 2/3 IP, 9 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, 12 hits
Thurston: 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 0 K, 1 BB, 3 hits
Ortega: 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 hit
Ericsen: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB, 1 hit (W 2-0)
Pitts: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 hits (Sv. 4)

HBP: none
WP: Pitts
PB: none
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:
Milchama First:
Sidelman doubles to right.
Holland singles to left, Sidelman to third.
O'Neil double to right, Sidelman and Holland score.
Chinggist single to left, O'Neil scores.
Hermes grounds into double play. (5-4-3). Chinggist out at second.
Hunter strikes out.
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 0

Qazox Second:
Thompson singles to right.
Riggs singles to left, Thompson to second.
Benjamin doubles to center, Thompson and Riggs score.
Felde strikes out.
Taresi flies out to center, Benjamin to third.
Morgan grounds out to second.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 2

Qazox Third:
Pippen doubles to left.
Redman Homerun to right, Pippen and Redman score.
Liber grounds out to third.
Thompson flies out to right.
Riggs singles to center.
Benjamin flies out to center.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 4

Qazox Fourth:
Felde singles to right.
Taresi doubles to center, Felde to third.
Morgan grounds out to second, Felde scores, Taresi to third.
Pippen singles to left, Taresi scores.
Pitching change: Ole' Gomez in for Ferris Banner
Redman strikes out.
Liber flies out to left.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 6

Qazox Fifth:
Thompson Homerun to right.
Riggs singles to left.
Benjamin triples to center, Riggs scores, Benjamin out at home advancing (8-5-2-6-2-5).
Felde singles to left.
Taresi grounds into 4-6-3 double play, Felde out at second.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 8

Milchama Fifth:
Gonzalez triples to right.
Sidleman strikes out.
Holland Homerun to center, Gonzalez and Holland score.
O'Neil singles to left.
Chinggist pops-out to pitcher.
Hermes grounds out to third.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 5-Qazox 8

Milchama Sixth:
Hunter walks.
Raritt singles to left, Hunter to third.
Remant singles to center, Hunter scores, Raritt to second.
Gonzalez doubles to center, Raritt scores, Remant to third.
Sidleman pops out to short.
Holland flies out to center, Remant scores.
Pitching change: Thurston in for Ridge
O'Neil singles to right, Gonzalez to third.
Chinggist ground-rule double to left, Gonzalez scores, O'Neil to third.
Hermes singles to right, O'Neil scores, Chinggist out advancing to third (9-5).
5 runs, 5 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 10-Qazox 8

Qazox Seventh:
Liber singles to center.
Thompson walks, Liber to second.
Riggs doubles to center, Liber and Thompson score, Riggs to third on throw.
Benjamin flies out to right, Riggs out at home advancing (9-2).
Felde singles to left.
Taresi singles to right, Felde to second.
Morgan strikes out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 2 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 10-Qazox 10

Qazox Eleventh:
Liber homerun to left.
Thompson flies out to right.
Riggs grounds out to first.
Benjamin flies out to right.
1 runs, 1 hit, 0 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 10-Qazox 11

Prux, finally glad to not be facing Qazox anymore, defeated Yafor 2 in 14 innings last night 7-6 to advance to the Plate (ed note: Huh??) semifinals where they will play the Hosts, Liventia once again. Liventia has beaten Prux twice in the seocnd round, and is the odds on favorite to win in this round, again.


Schedule:
FIRST ROUND
OFF
Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
OFF
SECOND ROUND
Liventia LOST 8-10 11 innings (0-1)
Qazox LOST 3-11 (0-2)
OFF
Liventia LOST 2-6 (0-3)
Qazox LOST 3-21 (0-4)
PLATE PLAYOFFS
Yafor 2 WIN 7-6 (14 innings)
Liventia

(OOC: Prux, the Plate playoffs are the second-tier of the finals, behind the Cup but ahead of the Bowl, which Mallatarsland won. The Plate champion is 5th place overall.)

Plate semi-finals
Liventia 11 Prux 9 (extra innings)
Xaristan 13 Corneliu 17 (extra innings)

Cup semi-finals Game Two
Taeshan 11 Zwangzug 8
Taeshan wins three-game series 2-0 and advances to the final.
Milchama 7 Qazox 14
Qazox wins three-game series 2-0 and advances to the final.

Estimated schedule for rest of tournament:
April 11 — Cup final Game 1, Cup 3PPO Game 1
April 12 — Plate final, Cup final Game 2, Cup 3PPO Game 2
April 13 — Cup final Game 3, Cup 3PPO Game 3‡
April 14‡ — Cup final Game 4
April 15‡ — Cup final Game 5

‡If necessary

The Unaclaimed Newspaper

Knights in World Baseball Classic Championship

Yesterday morning the Purple Knights defeated Zwangzug yet again 11-8, and advance to the championship for the first time ever after many a 3rd place game. The Knights are set to face the Qazox team which is known for being a prominent group in the history of the WBC. The Knights thou are favored in this bout due to there higher ranking then the Qazoxians.

In yesterdays game 3 homers were hit by the Purple Knights. Socki Lewis with his third Grand Slam unloaded the bases with a towering hit. To mkae it 4-0. Then in the seventh with Zwangzug up 7-4 of a nice ofensive couple of innings, Zi Zo cleared the bases of Zoey Menigen, and SS Flean Diageo. The game was then tied 7-7. In the bottom of the inning the Zwangzug team would score another run.

In the top of the ninth the Zwangzug manager brought in his closer to face Zi Zo. Zo hit her second homer of the game to tie it up. Then Socki Lewis got on base with a double followed by a Tadihito Shakiri single to put runners on the corners. Then up came catcher Freddy Myers who hit a 2 rbi double. He would then make it home on two balks by the Zwangzug pitcher. In the bottom of the inning Socki Lewis closed the game out.

The five game series with Qazox is set to start tomorrow, and fans you can still by tickets from, the Taeshani Trading company.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen. It's coming up on the hour somewhere. Turn the sleep timer on for another half-hour, we'll be done by then."

"Utopia digging up the mound with his cleats-Zwangzug is three outs away from the final..."

"...connected by Zo and driven deep to left-center, Rifkin backpedaling but he doesn't have a chance, and that's in the bleachers."

"Zo hits her second homer of the day and Taeshan has tied it up."

"Her?"

"Yep."

"...Well...wouldn't you know! Hard to tell with a name like Zi."

"We sort of like Zs around here, don't we?"

"Sort of..."

"...Nashille having shaken up the lineup a bit, so Totalez batting."

"Utopia turns towards Myers on second, and-it'll be a balk! Myers advances..."

"...recovering after that rattling balk."

"He focuses on third and-balks again! Myers scores and Taeshan now leads eleven-eight..."

"...Lewis having hit three grand slams throughout the series and apparently he can pitch too."

"Swung on and missed, Rifkin goes down and that'll be it. Zwangzug are eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, now I can finally leave and figure out if Zi is actu-"

"We still have the third-place series. Against Milchama."

"..."

"..."

"?"

"!"

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox clinched its second ever WBC finals berth with a 14-7 win over two-time defending champions, Milchama.

Qazox' offense has completely woken up in the latter rounds, scoring an average of 12.67 runs in the last 6 games. Granted the pitching hasn't been spectacular, allowing 6 runs a game, but when ever you score twice as many as your opponent, you're gonna win.

Up next is taeshan, making its first appearance in the Finals, after faltering in each of the last two WBC's. so for the first time since the 4th WBC, we'll have new champions, so will it be the Purple Knights or the Pheonix?

Now for today's box score."

BOX SCORE


Milchama 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 7 16 0
Qazox 0 0 5 3 5 1 0 0 x 14 20 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Taresi (2), Riggs (5), Pippen (7), Felde (3)
3B: Pippen (2)
HR: Morgan (2), Liber (6)
Steals: Pippen (8)
HBP: none
CS: Pippen (2)
RBI: Morgan 3 (8), Riggs 2 (12), Benjamin (5), Pippen 3 (14), Redman 3 (15), Liber (11), Felde (8)
SF: Redman
Sac:

Pitching Summary:
Meggars: 7 IP, 6 ER, 8 K, 4 BB, 13 hits (W 2-0)
Thurston: 2 IP, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 3 hits
Meggars pitched to 3 batters in 8th.

HBP: none
WP: none
PB: none
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:

Qazox Third:
Taresi doubles to right.
Morgan Homerun to center, Taresi and Morgan score.
Pippen singles to left.
Pippen steals second.
Redman singles to left, Pippen to third.
Liber walks, Redman to second.
Thompson strikes out.
Riggs doubles to right, Pippen and Redman score, Liber to third.
Benjamin grounds out to second, Liber scores.
Felde flies out to right.
5 runs, 5 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 0-Qazox 5

Qazox Fourth:
Taresi flies out to left.
Morgan singles to right.
Pippen triples to center, Morgan scores.
Redman sac fly to center, Pippen scores.
Pitching change: Oleg Channuckin for Greg Claymont
Liber Homerun to right.
Thompson strikes out.
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 0-Qazox 8

Qazox Fifth:
Riggs single to right.
Benjamin walks, Riggs to second.
Felde flies out to right.
Taresi singles to left, Riggs to third, Benjamin to second.
Morgan singles to left, Riggs scores, Benjamin to third, Taresi to second.
Pippen doubles to right, Benjamin and Taresi score, Morgan to third.
Redman singles to left, Morgan and Taresi score, Redman to second on throw.
Pitching change: Thomos Alem in for Oleg Channuckin
Thompson walks.
Riggs grounds into 6-4-3 double play, Thompson out at second.
5 runs, 5 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 0-Qazox 13

Milchama Sixth:
Chiggnist homerun to center.
Hermes doubles to right.
Hunter singles to left, Hermes to third.
Raritt singles to center, Hermes scores, Hunter to second.
Remant doubles to right, Hunter scores, Raritt out advancing to home (9-3-2), Remant to third on throw.
Gonzalez strikes out.
Sidelman grounds out to third.
3 runs, 5 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 13

Qazox Sixth:
Benjamin singles to center.
Felde doubles to right, Benjamin scores.
Taresi strikes out.
Morgan flies out to center.
Pippen grounds out in third.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 3-Qazox 14

Milchama Eighth:
Hermes singles to right.
Hunter singles to left, Hermes to second.
Raritt homerun to left, Hunter, Hermes and Raritt score.
Pitching change: Thurston in for Meggars
Remant doubles to right.
Gonzalez strikes out.
Sidleman doubles to center, Remant scores.
Holland flies out to left.
O'Neil flies out to right.
4 runs, 5 hit, 1 LOB, 0 errors Milchama 7-Qazox 14

Prux could perhaps have won this tourney, if not for facing Qazox and Liventia, whom the Prawns went 0-5, the last loss a 10 inning loss to the hosts 11-9, eliminating Prux, who will finish 8th (ooc: as the worst of the Plate's final four i finish 8th right?).

Since we played both finalists (and lost to them both) we feel that we can comfortably predict the winner of the Finals:

QAZOX IN 3, they are just scary on offense, and taeshan will get creamed.


Schedule:
FIRST ROUND
OFF
Taeshan LOST 4-6 (0-1)
Yafor 2 LOST 8-9 10 innings (0-2)
HaMedinat Yisrael WIN 3-0 (1-2) No-Hitter
Cripistan WIN 7-1 (2-2)
OFF
SECOND ROUND
Liventia LOST 8-10 11 innings (0-1)
Qazox LOST 3-11 (0-2)
OFF
Liventia LOST 2-6 (0-3)
Qazox LOST 3-21 (0-4)
PLATE PLAYOFFS
Yafor 2 WIN 7-6 (14 innings)
Liventia LOST 9-11 (10 Innings)

Cup 3PPO Game One
Milchama 6 Zwangzug 9

Cup Final Game One
Qazox 13 Taeshan 11

The Unaclaimed\Newspaper

Knights falter inn opening championship game

Well the baseball team lost to the Phoenix of Qazox 13-11. Mostly a banging fest zo had a 4 run grand slam inside the parker an a solo, whil socki lewis had a two run bomb and a slamer of his own.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen. Defensive enough to have kept both teams in the double digits, so over to the game-winning RBI then..."

"Remteyn still in the game for Milchama here in the sixth, while Zwangzug has gone through several pitchers."

"The Zebras are just an all-star team though, really. Don't want to wear their arms out."

"Sure, but there hasn't been a regular season for several tournaments."

"Whatever. Remteyn shakes off the sign from Hermes."

"Remteyn a very tactical pitcher, could beat the Zebras at-"

"Driven into left field! Jingle comes in, that's an RBI single for Pete Li..."

Statistic of the day: most pitches per at-bat

"...and Raritt fouls another one back."

"Eighth delivery from Clinton. We'll get the score update from the first game of the final series, that's Qazox versus Taeshan final. It's the fourth inning here in Liventia, Zwangzug 5, Milchama 3."

"Clinton winds and fires again, that's ball four."

Tied for second: Zeke Fallopian facing Remteyn and Endy Gonzalez facing Al Summers-6 pitches each.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox moved a step closer with a wild 13-11 win over taeshan in Game One of the Championship series.

Stan Forde looked horrible, allowing a team record 10 runs in only 2+ innings, and Qazox trailing 10-0, but the Qazox offense picked him up and scored 9 runs in the seventh and 3 in the eighth inning, sparking the come-from behind-win.

The recent spell of ineffective pitching has troubled Manager Adam Victorini, though the bats have picked up the slack, if the team goes into an offensive slump, then the series could change in a heartbeat in favor of taeshan.

Tommorrow's starter will be Micheal Nieves, who did throw a complete game last time out, during the 21-3 defeat of Prux. If he can give Victorini 6 solid innings, then the Pheonix will have a great chance to win their first WBC title.

Now for today's box score."

BOX SCORE


taeshan 6 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 19 2
Qazox 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 3 x 13 16 0



Batting Summary:
2B: Felde 2 (5), Liber (3)
3B: none
HR: Felde (2)
Steals: none
HBP: none
CS: Morgan
RBI: Felde (9), Redman 2 (17), Riggs (13), Morgan (9), Pippen 2 (16), Liber 2 (13), Taresi (4)
SF: Riggs
Sac: None

Pitching Summary:
Forde: 2 IP, 10 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 11 hits
Ericsen: 3 IP, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB, 5 hits
Davis: 3 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, 0 BB, 3 hits (W 1-0)
Pitts: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 k, 0 BB, 0 Hits (Sv. 5)
Forde pitched to 4 batters in 4th.

HBP: none
WP: none
PB: none
E: none

SCORING SUMMARY:
taeshan First:
Parker singles to right.
Shakiri walks, Parker to second.
Menigen singles to left, Parker to third, Shakiri to second.
Zo inside-the-park homerun to left center, Menigen, Parker, Shakiri and Zo score.
Diageo flies out to center.
Henris strikes out.
Totalez singles to left.
Lewis Homerun to right, Totalez and Lewis score.
Parker grounds out to third.
6 runs, 5 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Taeshan 6- Qazox 0

taeshan Third:
Diageo doubles to right.
Henris infield single to third.
Totalez singles to left, Henris to second, Diageo to third.
Lewis Homerun to left, Diageo, Henris, Totalez and Lewis score.
Pithcing change: Ericsen in for Forde
Myers grounds out to first.
Shakiri singles to left.
Menigen grounds into 5-6-3 double play, Shakiri out at second.
4 runs, 5 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Taeshan 10- Qazox 0

Qazox Third:
Felde Homerun to center.
Taresi singles to center.
Morgan flies out to right.
Pippen grounds into fielder's choice (6-4), Taresi out at second.
Redman strikes out.
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Taeshan 10- Qazox 1

taeshan Fourth:
Zo homerun to left.
Diageo flies out to right.
Henris strikes out.
Totalez singles to left.
Lewis strikes out.
1 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Taeshan 11- Qazox 1

Qazox Seventh:
Morgan singles to right.
Pippen reaches on Diageo's throwing error, Morgan to third, Pippen to second.
Redman singles to right, Morgan and Pippen score.
Liber walks, Redman to second.
Thompson reaches on Totalez's fielding error, Redman and Liber score, Thompson to third on throw home.
Riggs sac-fly to right, Thompson scores.
Benjamin singles to left.
Felde ground-rule double to right, Benjamin to third.
Pitching change:Victor Frun in for Rian Willemson
Taresi walks.
Morgan singles to left, Benjamin scores, Felde to third, Taresi to second
Pippen singles to center, Felde scores, Taresi to second, Morgan to third.
Redman strikes out.
Liber doubles to center, Taresi and Morgan score, Pippen to third.
Thompson flies out to center.
9 runs, 7 hits, 2 LOB, 2 errors Taeshan 11- Qazox 10

Qazox Eighth:
Riggs singles to center.
Benjamin flies out to right.
Felde doubles to left, Riggs to third.
Taresi singles to center, Riggs scores, Felde to third.
Pitching change: Goeli Hans in for Victor Frun
Morgan walks, Taresi to second.
Felde scores on Hans' wild pitch, Taresi to third.
Pippen singles to left, Taresi scores, Morgan to second.
Liber grounds into 4-6-3 double play, Pippen out at second.
3 runs, 4 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Taeshan 11- Qazox 13

Plate Final
Liventia 7 Corneliu 8

Cup 3PPO Game 2
Zwangzug 6 Milchama 4
Zwangzug wins series and finishes third.

Cup Final Game 2
Qazox 8 Taeshan 3
Qazox lead series 2-0.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox is now only a solitary win away from being WBC Champions, following a 8-3 win, in which Micheal Nieves pitched 8 solid innings, allowing only 3 runs, giving the bullpen and Manager Adam Victorini a break.

The odds favor Qazox in game three as the staff ace, Samuel Ridge, will pitch, coming off a bad start against Milchama. Can Ridge end Qazox' 12 years of frustration or will it be extended by at least a day?

Now for today's box score."

BOX SCORE


Qazox 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 13 1
taeshan 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 9 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Liber 2 (5), Morgan
3B: none
HR: Riggs (3), Mason, Pippen (2)
Steals: none
HBP: Thompson (1st), Redman (9th)
CS:
RBI: Riggs 2 (15), Liber 3 (16), Morgan (10), Mason, Pippen (17)
SF:
Sac:

Pitching Summary:
Nieves: 8 IP, 3 ER, 6 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP, (W 2-0)
Ortega: 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB

HBP: Nieves (Diageo) in 5th
WP: none
PB: none
E: Nieves

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox First:
Pippen grounds out to first.
Redman strikes out.
Liber doubles to right.
Thompson hit-by-pitch.
Riggs singles to left, Liber scores, Thompson to second.
Benjamin flies out to right.
1 run, 2 hits, 2 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 1- taeshan 0

Qazox Second:
Felde strikes out.
Taresi singles to right.
Morgan singles to center, Taresi to second.
Pippen walks, Taresi to third, Morgan to second.
Redman pops out to catcher.
Liber doubles to right, Taresi, Morgan and Pippen score.
Thompson flies out to right.
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 4- taeshan 0

Qazox Third:
Riggs homerun to center.
Pitching change: Goeli Hans in for Coi Vecxen
Benjamin flies out to right.
Taresi grounds out to short.
Morgan grounds out to second.
1 run, 1 hit, 1 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 5- taeshan 0

taeshan Fifth:
Diageo hit by pitch.
Henris homerun to left, Diageo and Henris score.
Totalez flies out to left.
Lewis Strikes out.
Hans strikes out.
2 runs, 1 hit, 0 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 5- taeshan 2

Qazox Sixth:
Felde flies out to center.
Taresi singles to left.
Morgan doubles to center, Taresi scores.
Pippen strikes out.
Redman grounds out to third.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 6- taeshan 2

taeshan Sixth:
Myers triples to center.
Shakiri sac-fly to right, Myers scores.
Menigen grounds out to short.
Zo walks.
Diageo flies out to center.
1 runs, 1 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 6- taeshan 3

Qazox Ninth:
Mason pinch hitting for Morgan
Mason homerun to left.
Pippen homerun to right.
Redman hit by pitch.
Liber grounds into 3-4-1 double play, Redman out at second.
Thompson flies out to center
2 run, 2 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 8- taeshan 3

World Baseball Classic 6 Cup Final Game Three

Taeshan 3 Qazox 5
Qazox wins five-game series 3-0 and wins the World Baseball Classic.

Teams that placed:
1st – Qazox
2nd – Taeshan
3rd – Zwangzug
4th – Milchama
5th – Corneliu
6th – Liventia
13th – Mallatarsland
14th – The Indonesian States

Prux, Xaristan, Quakmybush, Az-cz, Yafor 2, Holy Marsh, Cipristan, Hjela-Artouusa, Detroit-Madison States and HaMedinat Yisrael all finish the equivalent of 9th, 12th, 15th or 17th.

"You're listening to WTB, AM 1450 in Zwischen. Next tournament we're getting announcers who can actually announce. Until then...let's start with the previous statistic of the day. Build up the suspense. No, we don't have one for today."

"Full count on Thiesen. David winds and delivers, popped to second. Remant settles under it, makes the catch."

Random moment of note:

"Li takes off from first, Gonzalez covering but Hermes has no chance. Hegeboom-"

"Or even Hegaboom-"

"sort of annoyed, but it's not like he could have seen it coming-the Warriors surely can't know the Zebras' signs..."

And finally:

"...the eighth game between these two sides looks set to be a win, but we'll see."

"O'Neil skies it deep. Rubin settling under it, makes the catch, and the Zebras have taken third in this tournament. Now will-"

Static.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TODAY

"Welcome to WBC Today, I'm your host, Rob Costas, and today Qazox are Champions as they sweep the series against taeshan 3 games to none with a 5 to 3 win in the pentultimate game.

Samuel Ridge threw 6 perfect innings and seven no-hit innings, but struggled in the eighth allowing 3 runs on only one hit as he walked 3 that inning; but Tyrone Pitts came in a stuck out the first 2 batters he faced and then threw a perfect ninth to clinch the title.

Now Qazox can call themselves something other than the Pheonix... World Champions.

The WBC MVP was Lonnie Redman who hit .442 with 4 Homeruns and 18 RBI's during the tourney.

Now for today's box score."

BOX SCORE


taeshan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 2 0
Qazox 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 x 5 10 0


Batting Summary:
2B: Taresi (3)
3B: Pippen (2)
HR: Redman (4)
Steals: none
HBP: none
CS: none
RBI: Redman (18), Pippen (18), Taresi 2 (6), Morgan (11)
SF: none
Sac: none

Pitching Summary:
Ridge: 7 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 9 K, 3 BB, 2 Hits(W 3-0)
Pitts: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB, 0 hits (Sv. 6)

HBP: Ridge
WP: none
PB: none
E:

SCORING SUMMARY:
Qazox First:
Pippen grounds out to first.
Redman homerun to right.
Liber strikes out.
Thompson flies out to right.
1 run, 1 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 1- taeshan 0

Qazox Third:
Taresi flies out to right.
Morgan singles to center.
Pippen triples to right.
Redman grounds out to third.
Liber flies out to center.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 2- taeshan 0

Qazox Seventh:
Riggs singles to right.
Benjamin singles to right.
Taresi doubles to center, Riggs and Benjamin score.
Morgan singles to left, Taresi scores.
Pippen grounds into 4-6-3 double play, Morgan out at second.
Redman flies out to right.
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 5- taeshan 0

taeshan Eighth:
Diaego walks.
Henris walks, Diaego to second.
Totalez doubles to right, Henris and Diaego score.
Lewis grounds out to second, Totalez to third.
Pinch hitter: Joel Myers for Anthony Rielas
J. Myers singles to right, Totalez scores.
F. Myers walks, J. Myers to second.
Pitching change: Pitts in for Ridge
Shakiri strikes out.
Menigen strikes out.
3 runs, 2 hits, 2 LOB, 0 errors Qazox 5- taeshan 3