Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
25 April 2299 - Starlight's GM Gowest Talks 2299 Run
Starlight Lady Killers GM Chris Gowest is not content with his team's results the past two seasons. After making the playoffs as the wildcard team from the Institute League in 2296, the Lady Killers have finished with back-to-back 4th place finishes. The 2297 season was particularly brutal with the Killers challenging for the CBO's best record in the first half of the season before having the second half's worst record to drop the team below .500 on the season.
Gowest came in at the start of the 2298 season with a plan in place. According to Gowest, team owner Irish Cait said that she would give him a three-year plan to turn things around, but four more years of missing the playoffs were not an option for job security reasons. Maybe even life security, too, if Cait was not kidding.
"She told me that I had better get her team to the playoffs regularly by 2301," Gowest said, "or I might make an appetizer for a bunch of mirelurks."
Gowest has confidence that four-year plan can be accelerated to 2299 if the cards fall right. He cited the early success of both the CBO team and its BMU team, the Mystic Pines Raybathers which enters today's game against the Union Hope Lifegivers (Lexington) at 8-0.
"We have a lot of parts that could help us fill in some holes on our team and make us a force," Gowest said. "It won't make it any easier to pass up Abernathy and Fort Hagen, but we can do something. We have to beat the best to be the best, right?"
To improve their team to compete, the dead weight currently on the team may either need to go away or change their roles. Third baseman Hubris McBride has been batting either first or second in the lineup, but he has been cold. His .180 batting average is currently the worst of all high lineup players in the CBO. However, his past success should indicate that he will even out as the season goes on, probably edging much closer to his .274 career average.
Another player struggling to start the season in second-year player 1B Zeldoplh Violet. After batting .292 last season with 12 home runs and 71 RBI, the 2296 Rookie Draft first-round pick is currently hitting .189 with one homer and five RBI in 15 games.
Second baseman Wild Cannon has dropped out of the starting lineup with sometimes starter Justin Gunsmith taking his place. The 2B spot would be a place where the Killers need a better player to find success, both offensively and defensively. The Starlight defensive efficiency is 10th in the North Charles Association at .647.
There are definitely some bright spots. Pitching has been overachieving, currently 2nd in the NCA in Pitcher WAR (3.2). Other than City Moore (0-3, 4.85) struggling to find wins, both the starters and bullpens have enjoyed success. Still, dropping their first league series to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists cannot instill confidence after allowing seven and eight runs in the first two games of the series. They had only allowed that number of runs twice all season previously, an opening day 8-3 loss to Finch Farm and an April 13 8-2 loss to The Slog. The Killers have now lost two of their last three series after starting out 6-1.
With the uncertainty, Gowest still believes the right moves will keep his team not only in contention for a playoff spot but a true player in the race to the Sole Survivor Series.
"We're going to keep watching how our players are reacting," Gowest said. "[Scouting Director] Mike McCluskey and I are looking at the numbers every day. If our young guys start stepping up, then we will see a lot more wins than losses. We may not need to make blockbuster trades, but we can start to build depth and make some minor improvements, especially if the prospects at Mystic Pines keep playing at such a high level."
The Killers take on The Slog for the second time this season with games today and tomorrow, both scheduled for first pitch at 7:05. The teams split earlier in the season at The Slog, with Starlight winning the first game, 8-4, and the Ghouls taking the second game, 8-2. Fourth starter Justin Sphinx (1-1, 5.06) takes the mound for the Killers, while the Ghouls' Tommy Hein (3-0, 1.71) gets the start for the BL's first place (tied) team. Tomorrow's scheduled starters are Chris Schneier (2-2, 4.55) and Dan Dozier (2-1, 4.67).
25 April 2299 - BMU: Raybathers Shut Out Lifegivers, Alexson Winner
Mystic Pines Raybathers hurler Alex Alexson was stingy with runs in his latest outing against the Union Hope Lifegivers, shutting them out 2-0 on 2 hits.
"Alex was very aggressive tonight," Mystic Pines manager Justin Chops said. "He threw everything he had with a lot of confidence."
Through 9 innings, Alexson (3-0, 0.39), the 36th overall pick in the 2298 Rookie Draft, tallied no strikeouts and allowed 4 walks.
"He was throwing strikes with all his pitches and mixing it up well," losing manager Greg Tannenbaum said. "Alexson has a sneaky fastball, and whatever that off-speed pitch was, it was keeping our timing off."
25 April 2299 - Richardson Slugs Deathclaws to 8-2 Win
The home crowd had a good time watching the Oberland T-51s and University Point Deathclaws get after it.
Behind the hitting of Kory Richardson, the University Point Deathclaws stopped the Oberland T-51s, 8-2. Richardson went 2 for 3 with 2 home runs and a walk. He scored 3 runs and drove in 3 for the Deathclaws. Adam Froggatt picked up the win, improving his season record to 2-1. He struck out 7 in 9 innings.
In the first inning, Richardson had a 2-run home run for University Point. It was his 8th home run of the season and put the Deathclaws on top, 2-1.
"Our guys are never satisfied," said University Point manager Woody Lumpkin.
Adam Froggatt (2-1, 4.55) pitched the complete-game victory. He allowed two earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
At 10-6, the Deathclaws have played well so far.
25 April 2299 - Bather Powers Dwellers Offense in 4-run Rally
Led by Knud Bather, the Vault 81 Dwellers defeated the Atom Cats, 7-6. Bather was 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 doubles. He scored 2 runs and drove in 3 for the Dwellers. Dave Caveman earned the save, his 4th, for the Dwellers. Vault 81, now 5-11, is off to a slow start but playing a bit better as of late.
Vault 81 used the timely hitting of Sam Farland to seize the win. The pinch hitter stroked a run-scoring single in the top of the ninth inning to put the Dwellers on top, 7-6. It was his only hit in 1 at-bat, but it was a game-changer. The Dwellers entered the 9th trailing 6-3.
"Everyone's kind of edgy right now," said losing manager Paul Stands, "but nothing a couple of wins wouldn't cure."
Old Buck Buchanan (0-3, 15.00) blew his second save on the season for the Cats. In just 0.1 innings, he allowed four runs on five hits with a strikeout.
25 April 2299 - Ghouls Absorb 5-3 Loss at Valentine Detective Agency Field
Getting a good performance from first baseman Zeldolph Violet, the Starlight Lady Killers defeated the The Slog Ghouls, 5-3. Violet went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, while adding 2 RBI and scoring once for the Lady Killers. He raised his batting average to .232 after starting the day batting just .189.
"I had a good game," said Violet. "Winning makes it even better."
The Ghouls had been locked in a 3-3 tie with the Lady Killers going into the bottom of the sixth inning. That changed quickly when the slugging right fielder Damani Beebe came to the plate. Beebe hit a solo home run on a 1-0 changeup from The Slog hurler Tommy Hein (3-1). It was Beebe's 5th home run of the year.
Rookie Nick Maris also contributed in the Killers' win. He finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Joe Provisioner had two hits for the Ghouls, scoring twice. OK Dustin had three hits, including an RBI double. The career .352 hitter has started just four games this season, batting .423 in 12 total games.
25 April 2299 - Party Boys Win 1st Place Battle in 10
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys did just enough to sneak past the Abernathy Adamantium, 4-3, in 10 innings at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium. Nordhagen Beach pitcher Derek Gist, in particular, had a standout performance. The Party Boys, now 12-4, have been on fire in the early going.
The Party Boys relied on catcher Mike Swift for the game-winning hit. And, in the bottom of the tenth, he delivered, hitting a run-scoring single to seal the deal.
"I like to keep things lively in the clubhouse," said Swift. "Believe me, it's much easier after a win."
Night Demon Archaki (1-0, 0.00) pitched a scoreless 10th to earn the win. Abernathy starter Kyle Clevinger pitched well, allowing just three earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 8.0 innings. T-Bone Heagy (1-1) suffered the loss.
25 April 2299 - Silver Shroud Win at Finch Farm, 7-3
Fort Hagen shortstop Seth Dungan contributed to his team's 7-3 win over the Finch Farm Four Leafs. Dungan, who is tied for 2nd in the NCA in triples with 2, went 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored to lead the offensive attack for the Silver Shroud. Derek Green, who went 9 innings, was the winning pitcher. He was charged with 3 runs on 8 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 6. His record now stands at 2-0. The loss drops the Four Leafs to 7-9.
Fort Hagen used a timely hit from Mark Miller to get the win. The second baseman delivered a bases-clearing triple in the top of the seventh inning to put the Silver Shroud on top, 6-2. It was his only hit in 4 at-bats, but it was a game-changer.
"We'll kick back tonight, then get set for the next one," Miller said.
25 April 2299 - Gunners Sneak By Swatters, Win 9th Straight
The performance of Bryan Benton proved critical in helping Quincy beat Diamond City, 3-2. The Gunners left fielder was 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 singles. He drove in 2 runs. Quincy reliever Ryan Kazarian picked up the win, upping his record to 2-0. Noah Williams was saddled with the loss. With their winning streak at 9, the Gunners have raced to a strong start this season.
Had Biggie Biggs not delivered a key base hit in the bottom of the eighth, the outcome might have been different. Instead, with two down and runners on 1st and 2nd, Biggs hit a run-scoring single. That made the score 3-2, in favor of the Gunners.
"We're stringing together some nice wins," said Quincy manager Kevin Banner.