Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
28 June 2298 - BMU: Knox Helps Raybathers Beat Nerd Ragers, 13-4
In baseball, each game is unique. This one was no different.
The Mystic Pines Raybathers downed the College Square Nerd Ragers, 13-4, at Nuka Cola Square. The Raybathers were led by Justice Knox. He was 3-5 with a home run, 2 singles, and a walk. He drove in 4 runs and scored once. Trombone Jones, who went 6.1 innings, was the winning pitcher. He was charged with 2 runs on 4 hits, while walking 4 and striking out 2. His record now stands at 4-3.
With Mystic Pines leading 9-4 in the top of the eighth, Knox came up to bat against College Square pitcher Lost Dog Coleman. Knox hit a curveball to left for a 3-run home run. His 1st home run of the season put the Raybathers on top, 12-4.
"Win or lose, we always try to grind it out and stay even-keeled," Knox said in reaction to the win.
Mystic Pines now has a record of 24-18 with the win.
28 June 2298 - BMU: Gun Fu End Burgess's Streak
Howie Burgess came rolling into today's game against the Bunker Hill Gun Fu with a 22-game hitting string, but he left it on the field at Wicked Shipping Field.
The 19-year-old C.I.T. Ruins Refractors second baseman went 0-for-2 against the Gun Fu as the Refractors fell, 4-3.
"I swung at a couple pitches I probably shouldn't have and I didn't swing at a couple I probably should have," he said, grimacing. "But that's what makes a hit streak so impressive in the first place -- it only takes a couple mistakes to end it all."
This season Burgess is swinging the bat at a .308 rate with 52 hits in 169 at-bats. To date he has hit 3 home runs, scored 25 runs and driven in 19.
28 June 2298 - BMU: Uglyhair Excels in 17-8 Natick Banks Win
The performance of Jim Uglyhair proved critical in helping Natick Banks beat Forest Grove, 17-8. The Big Leaguers center fielder went 2 for 2 with a double and 3 walks. He scored 3 times and drove in 2. Natick Banks reliever Kyle McClurg picked up the win to move to 1-0. Whokill Poole suffered the loss. The triumph puts Natick Banks at 26-16 for the season.
The Big Leaguers benefited from an error in the bottom of the second inning. Natick Banks was leading 7-0 when Max Jones hit a 2-run single that was misplayed. It put Natick Banks in front, 9-0.
"We'll kick back tonight, then get set for the next one," Uglyhair said.
Oren Gep also had a big game for the Big Leaguers. He was 3 for 5 with a home run, three runs and two RBI.
28 June 2298 - 5-Hit Blitz by Goodman
No matter what the Atom Cats threw him today, Young Goodman hit it. The 20-year-old Roxbury Knuckle Punchers right fielder racked up 5 hits in 6 at-bats today at Atomatoys Stadium at Roxbury and led the Knuckle Punchers to a 18-13 victory.
Young Goodman struck out in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 6th and singled in the 8th.
Thus far this year Goodman has hit .251 with 4 home runs and 18 RBIs.
The Cats' Will Ashfire also had a big day with the bat. He was 4 for 6 with a double, a home run, three runs, and five RBI.
28 June 2298 - 5 Hits for Bloodbugs Carrotflower
It's not something you read about in the sports pages every day -- a 5-for-6 day. For many, it might come around only once in a career -- and for Joel Carrotflower, it came around today.
The 26-year-old second baseman scattered hits all over Valentine Detective Agency Field to pace the County Crossing Bloodbugs to a 17-6 victory over the Starlight Lady Killers.
Starlight skipper Eric Bendure told reporters in the press room that "Carrotflower deserves a hat-tip."
"He hit some good pitches against us," he said. "In fact, according to our scouting reports, Carrotflower hit several that he is not supposed to be able to hit."
Joel Carrotflower hit a two-run single in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, singled in the 4th, hit a two-run double in the 5th, hit an RBI double in the 7th and grounded out in the 8th.
So far this season Carrotflower is hitting .368 with 4 home runs, 36 RBIs and 35 runs scored. He has 93 hits in 253 at-bats and a .414 OBP.
28 June 2298 - Ramos, Chemists Fall to Party Boys
The inspired effort of Sunshine Tidings right fielder Brightsun Ramos was not enough to prevent a loss, 14-9, to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys. Ramos was 4 for 4 with a home run, a double, 2 singles, and a walk, while scoring 3 runs and driving in 3. Nordhagen Beach leads the North Charles Association Brotherhood League by 2 games.
In the bottom of the first, Michael Fogcrawler hit a 3-run home run. The 19th home run of the season for the Nordhagen Beach left fielder put the Party Boys on top, 3-1. The Boys went on to score three more runs in the inning to take a commanding 6-1 lead after one. The scored six more in the third to push their lead to 12-3 after four.
"The boys were really swinging the bats today," winning manager Craig Robinson said.
Nordhagen Beach also premiered their new third baseman, Jon Hitman, who batted fifth in the lineup. He went 1 for 5, which included a three-RBI double in the third inning. Tomas Jones finished 3 for 5 with two doubles, two runs, and an RBI.
28 June 2298 - Fort Hagen Gets 6-5 Win
Salem got a terrific game from first baseman Antonio Toeclaw. It wasn't enough, though, to prevent the team from falling to Fort Hagen, 6-5. Toeclaw hit 2 home runs while adding 3 RBI and scoring twice. Brent Hooker was the winning pitcher. Over 7 innings, he allowed 5 runs on 7 hits, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Curtis Thriceshot notched his 20th save in 21 chances.
Ben Pawlak, the 21-year old center fielder, had a direct impact on the outcome. Pawlak contributed a 2-run single in the top of the sixth inning to put Fort Hagen up, 3-2.
"We had the game right there for the taking," said Salem manager Proper Lighthouse. "But we decided not to take it."
The win gives Fort Hagen a season record of 31-30.