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Imperialism32 · 06-23-2020, 12:20 PM

March 11, 1961

Plenty Of Intrigue With Two Games Remaining

In Pool A, the host team The Netherlands has already clinched their spot in the knockout stage thanks to some incredible pitching. They've held their opponents to just 5 runs in 5 games, led by Boris Sanders notching two wins. They've gotten just enough offense to sneak past their opponents, led by Max Kent and his .500 OBP. Their spot is secure but it's a muddled mess after that. Five teams are still in the mix. Italy, India, and Australia are each 3-2 and Sweden and Panama are still alive at 2-3. It's been quite a disappointing run for Puerto Rico, who won their pool at 6-1 last year.

The story of Pool B has been the ineptitude of the United States team, who lost to Nicaragua to fall to 0-5. Combined with Venezuela's rather lackluster 2-3 performance so far, it's opened the door for some surprise teams. England has ridden the 1-2 rotation punch of Lenny Sloan and Henry Jones to a 5-0 record and they're all but assured of advancing. The Greece team was pegged for last place in this pool, but they're 4-1 thanks to two dominant starts by Iannis Popovic. Germany and Canada are each 3-2 and will meet on the final day to perhaps decide an advancement spot. And the USA has officially been eliminated along with New Zealand.

A trio of 4-1 teams sit atop Pool C. South Korea and Japan were the presumed favorites, and they're joined by Curacao. It's worth nothing that their one loss came to South Korea, and they've yet to face Japan. Spain scored a surprise win over South Korea and is lurking at 3-2 but they also have to face Team Japan. Russia and Mexico at 2-3 are all but doomed while 1-4 Portugal and 0-5 Poland are officially playing for pride.

And in Pool D things are suddenly tense for the defending champion Dominican Republic team at 3-2 with games remaining against strong teams in Cuba and Colombia. The French team boasts perhaps the most underrated rotation with Théo Dufournet, Arnaud Boyer, Mathieu Bour, and Mathieu Tanguay. A win against either Taiwan or Colombia would assure their advancement. The Colombians need to survive the Czech Republic before their potentially huge final game against the Dominican Republic. Cuba is also lurking at 3-2 but would have to take down France and the DR in order to advance. Belgium at 2-3 is basically out, while China, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic are officially dead.

06-23-2020, 12:20 PM	#106
Imperialism32 Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 341	March 11, 1961 Plenty Of Intrigue With Two Games Remaining In Pool A, the host team The Netherlands has already clinched their spot in the knockout stage thanks to some incredible pitching. They've held their opponents to just 5 runs in 5 games, led by Boris Sanders notching two wins. They've gotten just enough offense to sneak past their opponents, led by Max Kent and his .500 OBP. Their spot is secure but it's a muddled mess after that. Five teams are still in the mix. Italy, India, and Australia are each 3-2 and Sweden and Panama are still alive at 2-3. It's been quite a disappointing run for Puerto Rico, who won their pool at 6-1 last year. The story of Pool B has been the ineptitude of the United States team, who lost to Nicaragua to fall to 0-5. Combined with Venezuela's rather lackluster 2-3 performance so far, it's opened the door for some surprise teams. England has ridden the 1-2 rotation punch of Lenny Sloan and Henry Jones to a 5-0 record and they're all but assured of advancing. The Greece team was pegged for last place in this pool, but they're 4-1 thanks to two dominant starts by Iannis Popovic. Germany and Canada are each 3-2 and will meet on the final day to perhaps decide an advancement spot. And the USA has officially been eliminated along with New Zealand. A trio of 4-1 teams sit atop Pool C. South Korea and Japan were the presumed favorites, and they're joined by Curacao. It's worth nothing that their one loss came to South Korea, and they've yet to face Japan. Spain scored a surprise win over South Korea and is lurking at 3-2 but they also have to face Team Japan. Russia and Mexico at 2-3 are all but doomed while 1-4 Portugal and 0-5 Poland are officially playing for pride. And in Pool D things are suddenly tense for the defending champion Dominican Republic team at 3-2 with games remaining against strong teams in Cuba and Colombia. The French team boasts perhaps the most underrated rotation with Théo Dufournet, Arnaud Boyer, Mathieu Bour, and Mathieu Tanguay. A win against either Taiwan or Colombia would assure their advancement. The Colombians need to survive the Czech Republic before their potentially huge final game against the Dominican Republic. Cuba is also lurking at 3-2 but would have to take down France and the DR in order to advance. Belgium at 2-3 is basically out, while China, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic are officially dead.