Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
24 August 2298 - BMU: Cannibals Get One-Run Win at Somerville Place
The Charles View Cannibals did just enough to sneak past the Somerville Place Sentry Bots, 4-3, at Water and Beds Park. Charles View pitcher Miles Zoom, in particular, had a standout performance. Zoom went 7 innings to notch the win. He scattered 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 9. His record improves to 4-0. Capstone Goofson notched his 10th save in 16 chances.
Matt Morrison, the 20-year old first baseman , had a direct impact on the outcome. Morrison contributed a 2-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to put Charles View up, 4-0.
"I'll probably toss and turn tonight," Somerville Place manager Limp Durn said following the tough loss.
Charles View now has a 3-game win streak.
24 August 2298 - BMU: T-60s, Cook Pin Bad Loss on Action Boys
The Fiddler's Green T-60s topped the Postal Square Action Boys, 10-1, in Massachusetts Association action at Shamrock Taphouse Stadium of the Square. The game was highlighted by the performance of Fiddler's Green second baseman Chad Cook. Josh Bum picked up the win, improving his season record to 4-12. He struck out 1 in 8 innings. The T-60s sit in 4th place in the Massachusetts Association Glowing Sea League with a record of 34-37.
It could have been a different outcome for Fiddler's Green, had it not been for Johnny Tattooman, the 28-year old third baseman. Tattooman contributed a run-scoring walk in the top of the second inning to put Fiddler's Green up, 2-0.
"There's never a lack of effort in our clubhouse. We're willing to do the little things to get the win," Tattooman told the Fiddler's Green Citizen.
24 August 2298 - BMU: Vertibird Powers Snipers Offense
The home crowd had a good time watching the Forest Grove Mole Rats and Trinity Plaza Snipers get after it.
The Trinity Plaza Snipers topped the Forest Grove Mole Rats by a score of 13-7. Leading the way was third baseman Danny Vertibird. Vertibird was 2 for 4 with a home run, a triple, and a walk. He scored 3 runs and drove in 5 for the Snipers. Trinity Plaza pitcher Ed Hurtbrain got the win, upping his record to 1-0. Dan Lowbridge got the loss.
Jonathan Coats aided the Trinity Plaza cause with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the third. For the game, the catcher went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk.
"We put it together today and came out with the win," Coats said in postgame remarks. "That's the main thing."
With the victory, the Snipers upped their record to 41-30.
24 August 2298 - Iddings Masterful in Shutout, Hancocks Clinch ML
The Oberland T-51s had no answer today for Goodneighbor Hancocks pitcher Bruce Iddings. They failed to score a single run against him, losing 9-0. Oberland managed only 3 hits off Iddings, who had 8 strikeouts.
The extraordinarily popular Iddings got a standing ovation from the hometown crowd as he left the field, the applause continuing until he returned from the dugout to tip his cap to the crowd.
"Hancocks fans are the best fans, in my opinion," he said. "It's a great feeling to throw a shutout under any circumstances but to do it with the crowd behind you like that is just incredible."
So far this year Iddings has 16 wins and 4 losses and a 3.46 ERA.
With the win, the Hancocks have clinched the season series over Oberland and puts them just one game back of the battle for the #1 overall seed in the South Charles Association playoffs with just eight games to play.
More importantly, Goodneighbor officially clinched the Minutemen League. The Hancocks said they expected to win the ML from day one.
It is now closer to the end than it is to day one, but that brash attitude has paid off, as the team has in fact clinched the division.
"We believe in each other and we think we're by far the best team in the division. We proved that this year," said Assman. "We're sitting at 68-31 right now, well ahead of the rest of the division, it feels good. This is a statement for us."
Whether the confidence carries over into the team's playoff pursuits remains to be seen, but this is the 2nd time they have won the division.
24 August 2298 - Radsco Shackles Salem
Chris Radsco blitzed the Salem Witch Hats at Vim! Park of Salem today, pitching the Concord Radstags to victory, 5-0. Radsco needed 9 innings to shut out the Witch Hats, striking out 10.
"I knew he had it in him, but it's still nice to see him put it all together," said Concord manager Mark Gourdroot.
Radsco surrendered 5 hits and 2 walks in the outing.
Thus far this season Radsco has posted a 6-4 record, started 11 games, struck out 73 batters in 75 innings and compiled a 3.36 ERA.
24 August 2298 - Bertha Twirls 6-0 Shutout
ArcJet Systems Stadium played host to a command performance by Tony Bertha of the Sunshine Tidings Chemists. In shutting out The Slog 6-0, Bertha limited the Ghouls to 2 hits. The 21-year-old hurler also fanned 9 and walked 2 in capturing the victory.
Over the season Bertha has thrown 170 innings and dished out 134 strikeouts with a 10-12 mark and a 3.65 ERA.
The Slog has been reeling lately, dropping their fifth-straight game while league rival Easy Town is riding a six-game winning streak. The Ghouls now trail the Assaultrons by two games in the Brotherhood League wildcard race.
24 August 2298 - Shroud Loses 4th Straight, Fall Behind Adamantium
The County Crossing Bloodbugs beat the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud by a score of 10-6. First baseman Josh Noggin deserved the lion's share of the credit. Noggin was 3 for 5 with a home run and a double. He scored 2 runs and drove in 2 for the Bloodbugs. The second-place Silver Shroud have lost 4 straight games, dropping them a game behind the Abernathy Adamantium who beat Nordhagen Beach today.
Noggin had a key at-bat for County Crossing early in the game. With a runner on 1st, he hit a 2-run home run. It was his 24th home run of the season and gave County Crossing an early 2-0 lead.
"Getting a lot of baserunners and getting some timely hits, it's a good combination," said Noggin.
24 August 2298 - Adamantium Prevail, 5-3, Take Over 1st Place
The Abernathy Adamantium trumped the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, 5-3, at Tato Field. Abernathy second baseman Jim Waples was terrific. He was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles. He scored 2 runs and drove in 3. Abernathy pitcher Neil Watson got the win. He's now 7-8. Derek Gist was tagged with the loss. The win puts Abernathy at 56-44 this season, one game up on Fort Hagen.
Waples had a timely hit for Abernathy in the bottom of the sixth. With Nordhagen Beach trailing 2-0, he turned a 1-1 fastball into a bases-clearing double. It was his 18th double of the season, making it 3-2, Abernathy.
"We'll put this win in our pocket and go after the next one," said Waples.
24 August 2298 - Vault 81 Season Won't Continue in Playoffs
Postseason baseball won't be coming to Vault 81 this year. The quest for the playoffs ended for the Vault 81 Dwellers today, as they were mathematically eliminated from contention.
"Not the first time I've experienced this," said Dwellers manager Jason Personhood, "but it never gets fun."
This is the 3rd time in a row that the Dwellers have missed the playoffs. They have yet to make the playoffs in their history.