Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization

[StLee]

This Month in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

Each month, Publick Occurrences will put out reports that we hear from various stringers and sources around the Commonwealth. These reports are considered rumors until confirmed, but that will not stop this reporter from reporting what she hears.

This month has been a busy one for these seemingly random events, so our humble paper must print two editions. Please enjoy our first offering of news and notes around the CBO.

2 January 2296 - New CBO Player Has Close Call

Excited by being drafted by the Egret Scrappers in the 5th round, new centerfielder Bill Chaney started to make his way from a motel in the Fens to his new home at Egret Tours Marina. While on the way, Chaney had a run-in with a juvenile bloodbug. Chaney suffered minor injuries to his abdomen and pelvis from the bloodbug's sword-like needle proboscis, but he ultimately splattered the bug's brains all over his brahmin, Truce, with a .45 revolver.

3 January 2296 - Party Boy Wakes Up Naked and Broke

Nordhagen Beach draftee Steve Gunkill may want to taper his habits after the 30-year-old outfielder woke up after a downtown dance party turned into drunken regret. According to witnesses who refused to be named, Gunkill started taking off his clothes and throwing caps at the bartendress. He later passed out behind the club with his clothes never to be seen. Luckily Mae has a good sense of fashion and the right size, as she sent the 9th-rounder Party Boy on his way in a beautiful sequined red dress. Cheers, Mae. And cheers, Steve.

4 January 2296 – Chemists Owner Seen Sporting a Black Eye

Sunshine Tidings owner Talia McGovern disappeared for a couple of days after the draft. When she was seen emerging from her house in Sunshine Tidings Co-op, she was sporting one hell of a shiner. Asked by a local correspondent if her lover was responsible, McGovern responded, “Wait? What? You heard? I mean, no, there’s no lover. I mean, no, no lover of mine, if there was a lover, I mean, there’s not, but if there was, he would never hit me. I mean, there is no he, but a hypothetical he would not.” Further questioning resulted in McGovern taking the fetal position and rocking back and forth.

In related news, there are reports that Small Bertha, who was in town for the draft in Diamond City and whose Vim! company bought the naming rights of the Sunshine Tidings stadium, was livid after the draft when McGovern passed on Bertha’s brother with the 21st pick to take Front Porch Potter. Tony Bertha was then selected with the next pick by the Starlight Lady Killers, the 22nd pick overall. Whether McGovern’s black eye and Small Bertha’s anger have anything to do with each other, this reporter was unable to find out.

6 January 2296 - CBO Named as Public Treasure

King of the Commonwealth and do-everything man, Nate Howard, named the new Commonwealth Baseball Organization as a Public Treasure.

According to Howard, "We want to mark this momentous achievement by thanking all citizens of the Commonwealth. Without you, we could not enjoy the pleasures of this daily life. Now that we have a professional baseball league to entertain us, we can consider this to be our pastime and the public treasure of the Commonwealth."

Diamond City mayor Robert McCready raised a toast to Howard and the union of the Brotherhood of Steel, Institute, Minutemen, and Railroad. Ceremonies were cut short after a radstorm blew through.

14 January 2296 - Yao Guai Claims Home, Gets Roasted

Lexington is not a place known for yao guai infestations. That's why it came as a surprise to Synths pitcher Doug Dee El when he purchased a building from a sketchy broker. Centered in the master bedroom was Dee El's biggest surprise of his life as the shaggy beast did not take kindly to strangers. Along with his trusted Mr. Handy, Dee El took a flamethrower to the beast and later held a neighborhood barbecue. Dee El is OK, but the scrape to his left arm will need to be monitored for infections for the next month.

[Sizeman21]

These are hilarious! Love them so far!

[StLee]

This Month in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

16 January 2296 - Swatters' Investment Rusts

Diamond City first baseman Jeffrey Curatolo thought he was clever when he stored his life's savings in a sewer grate off the Charles River. Unfortunately, the 7th-rounder did not use an airtight box. Since his life's savings were entirely in bottle caps instead of the paper money Nate Howard has suggested using for large amounts, Curatolo now has just a rusted pile of metal. What he claimed was enough to invest in new restaurants in the Fens now just gets to go to the scrap heap. At least he will make more money hitting balls for the CBO's elite team.

19 January 2296 - Goodneighbor Player Regrets #2 at the Third Rail

Playing for John Hancock has to be among the most thrilling of enterprises for young men in the Commonwealth. However, 16-year-old second baseman Jumper Hayes's introduction to the team got, let's say, a little sticky. While having a team party at Hancock's club, the Third Rail, Hayes had to go number two. What he did not know was that an unidentified-as-yet prankster smeared super glue on one of the toilet seats. Hayes, who was taken in the second round of the inaugural draft, was glued to the seat for several hours before Whitechapel Charlie was able to saw off the metal frame. Still, Hayes will miss a bit of time while the skin regrows on his bum. However, he definitely will not be sitting very much in the next few weeks. Hancock has threatened to publicly execute the prankster. There is no comment yet from Nate Howard.

20 January 2296 - Slog Player Gets Sloshed

In what promises to be a running storyline in the CBO of drunken debauchery among players, Ghouls third baseman Lou Churchman found himself in a pickle at the Steamhouse. Four guys who didn't like Churchman's face nor his boasting at the neighborhood bar, took out their frustration by challenging the rockhead to a fight. While the four guys got the best of Churchman by cracking his tooth, he claimed the other guys got the worst of the punishment. Churchman is a little battered and bruised, but he said he could take on a behemoth today if need be.

23 January 2296 - University Point Still a War Zone

University Point two-bagger Greg Shallowwater learned the hard way that renting an apartment means that neighbors are nearby. Angered by his new neighbor blasting Atomic Radio a little too loud, the late-round pick put his fist through their adjoined wall. It looks like we know what Shallowwater, who will make the league minimum, is going to be doing with his next capbag: paying to replace a wall. Wade in your pool, there, GS.

26 January 2296 – Junkman Knows His Trade

A slightly inebriated member of the Four Leafs forgot his new trade and drunkenly fumbled his way through his old one. Shortstop Tommy Junkman, following a ten-day trend of CBO infielders doing stupid things, got drunk with his new Finch Farm comrades. After most of the party died down, a few heard someone hammering on metal. What they found was Junkman battering the pitching machine into submission.

According to one teammate who wished to remain anonymous, Junkman yelled out, “This is some good scrap, man” in reference to the mutilated machine. “I can get at least 70 caps on this!”

Perhaps the Junkman forgot that he will be making more caps on fielding grounders than he did in collecting scrap.

31 January 2296 - Irony Strikes Concord Player, Long Clinic Stay Imminent

What Concord Radstags reliever Bobby Fairline may not have understood is that joining the Radstags team does not suddenly make actual radstags his friend. Fairline found out the hard way that close encounters with radstags can and do result in aggressive animals with sharp horns poking holes in people. The undrafted free agent pickup is listed in critical but stable condition. While his injuries may not be life-threatening, advances in medicine have yet to speed up healing gapes in the body. Fairline looks to miss some time, with the start of the regular season probably out of the question.

[StLee]

This Month in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

2 February 2296 - Glowing Radroach Nearly Does in Dwellers CF

Vault 81 once had a major hidden molerat problem. Though the venerable Nate Howard took care of that problem and freed the darling of the Commonwealth, Ms. Marie Curie, not all of the vault’s holes have been filled. Vault 81 centerfielder Chris Van Benschoten along with his new gal pal learned all about the filthy holes of the vault when he found a glowing radroach amid the steaming pipes of the boiler room. While Van Benschoten was able to protect his girl, the radroach was able to sink its mandibles into Van Benschoten’s neck, running a nice little array of rad poisoning through his veins. Dwellers’ owner Dr. Jacob Forsythe was able to treat the wound, but simple RadAway was not able to do the trick. Instead, Van Benschoten needs time to heal all wounds. He will be out for the foreseeable future. He may also want to practice safe…ahem…time in the future.

5 February 2296 – Player Takes a Plunge at the Marina

The Charles River distributary is no imposing river—unless one cannot swim. That was the case for near-drowning, and extra-irradiated victim Corey Statue of the Scrappers. While working on repairing a dock with a couple of his new teammates, fellow infielders Casey Roux and Fawk Fowkes, Statue lost his footing after tripping over a large nail. After falling into the river and taking a great big gulp, Statue was pulled up by his bemused but suddenly concerned teammates. While he dries out his lungs and gets pumped with a ton of RadAways, reports are that teammates are starting to call Statue “The Anchor.” Because he sinks.

6 February 2296 – First Trade Rumored

In a follow-up to a story from last month, the first rumored trade is starting to take shape. Apparently, Sunshine Tidings and Starlight, both of the Institute League, are currently working on a deal to move Tony Bertha from the Lady Killers to Sunshine Tidings. While neither team has confirmed the trade talks, Irish Cait and Small Bertha were seen together in County Crossing over the weekend. Supposedly Cait was looking for medical supplies for the Starlight Drive-In stockpile when she bumped into Bertha, but reports mentioned the two women together entered Bloodbugs owner Doc Weathers’ office.

Last month Chemists owner Talia McGovern was reported to have a black eye. While there were no conformations, sources suspected Bertha of being the culprit after McGovern passed on Bertha’s brother, Tony Bertha, in the CBO Inaugural Draft. Rumors also swirled that Small Bertha had threatened to pull her company, Vim!, from the stadium sponsorship in Sunshine Tidings Co-op if “that ***** [McGovern] didn’t get her **** together.”

9 February 2296 – Scrappers Rename Stadium

The Egret Scrappers’ owner, Ron Staples, announced on Sunday that the team had found a corporate sponsor for the 2296 season and would rename Old Phyllis Field to Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina, effective immediately. Becky Fallon was on hand to commemorate the event. While Egret Tours Marina has worked on expanding its territory and has some investments from Nate Howard and others, the Scrappers are thought to be one of the poorer teams starting out the inaugural season. With the addition of the Fallon name, the leader in clothing production and distribution in the Commonwealth, Egret can be more financially competitive with other teams. While that may not be of value to this year, they may be able to compete for more depth in the near future.

10 February 2296 – Atom Cats Name Their Five “Coolest Cats”

Atom Cats owner Zeke Cat announced today his team’s Five Coolest Cats, an honorary title for five players he wants to push as players exemplifying the qualities of his gang. Each of the five chosen agreed to be called by their nicknames in official press, though Zeke did not expect the players to change their names permanently. The five players are:

“Boss” Junkpile – Leadership Award

“Daddy-O” Sixx – Loyalty Award

“Bee’s Knees” Stabb – Selflessness Award

“Earthbound” Bussey – Work Ethic Award

“Jets” Wash – Smarts Award

19 February 2296 – Exhibition Tournament Announced

Diamond City – Nate Howard announced today that the league would hold a preseason tournament from March 19 through March 22 to kick off the season. While this is currently a tournament meant to get teams in game mode before they begin practice games against their own league members on March 26, there could be plans to repeat or expand the tournament in future seasons.

Six random hosts were selected. First, a single host from each league was selected, and then two wild card hosts were selected. Each host team will host three other teams, one from each league, in a round-robin format. The top two teams will then play for a tournament championship unless one team goes 3-0 in the round robin. In case of a three-way tie for first, the team with the best run differential would get a bye. That team would then play the winner of the other two teams for the championship. Each tournament is named after its hosts’ nicknames.

The Four Leafs Invitational features the following four teams: Finch Farms, Concord, Goodneighbor, and Vault 81.

The Silver Shroud Invitational features Fort Hagen, East Boston Prep, Warwick, and Fairline Hill Estates.

The T-51s Invitational includes Oberland, Nordhagen Beach, Abernathy, and the Atom Cats.

The Gunners Invitational includes Quincy, Salem, Lexington, and Shaw High School.

The Deathclaws Invitational shows off University Point, The Slog, Sunshine Tidings, and Diamond City.

The Lady Killers Invitational includes these four: Starlight, County Crossing, Jamaica Plain, and Egret.

20 February 2296 – Rogue Power Armor Takes Out Shroud Reliever

A Brotherhood of Steel patrolman is under fire for forgetting to power down his power armor. Knight Edgar Lomax had to take a piss break while on patrol out west. When he got out of his suit, though, automatic pilot somehow got tripped. While Knight Lomax and others on patrol were unable to secure the suit, a helping Curtis Thriceshot of the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud decided standing in front of the suit was a good idea. It wasn’t. Though he only suffered minor scrapes and bruises in the incident, Thriceshot may have beat Knight Lomax for dumbest move of the day.

24 February 2296 – Trade Rumors Rumors No More

Ever since the Inaugural Draft was held on January 1, there have been rumors swirling that Sunshine Tidings Chemists corporate sponsor Small Bertha has been putting pressure on owner Talia McGovern to correct the mistake she made when she passed on Small Bertha’s brother, Tony Bertha. Earlier this month, Small Bertha was spotted in County Crossing meeting with Bloodbugs’ owner Doc Weathers and Starlight Lady Killers owner Irish Cait.

Today, we are able to confirm the purpose of that meeting when Cait announced there had been a three-way trade between the teams. The trade will need to be processed through the home CBO office, but there may be some delays since the system only allows two-way trades currently.

Here are the details we know:

Sunshine Tidings has sent pitchers Front Porch Potter and Chopstick McWilliams to County Crossing. They also shipped outfielder Jesus Church and infielder Wild Cannon to Starlight.

Starlight sends pitchers Tony Bertha and Danny Beerholder to Sunshine Tidings. They send infielder T.J. McMath and outfielder Mushy Levy to County Crossing.

County Crossing sends pitchers City Moore and Burn Rivera to Starlight. They send infielder Josh Noob and outfielder Frank Corsica to Sunshine Tidings.

There has been no confirmation if McGovern approved the trade. The trade is pending approval from the CBO league office.

[StLee]

This Month in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

There's a lot happening this month in the lead up to the opening tournament, Spring Training, and the debut of the CBO. Therefore, we are splitting this month up as much as needed with our opening news and notes all the way up to the tournament, which begins March 19.

So, now for the hot takes of March 1 through March 19.

1 March 2296 – Faulty Wiring Destroys Players’ Dorms

While Vault 81 is overcrowded, the settlement has expanded from the vault and surrounding area all the way west to the Charles River where they built McNamara Park. Along the river, Vault 81 also built a row of houses just completed four days ago called the Dorms, a wall-to-wall array of shanty shacks meant to keep the players away from the usual settlers.

Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of wiring the Dorms made a mistake by crossing the wires, causing an overheating issue. That issue led to a row of the eastside dorms catching fire and wiping out five pitchers’ temporary homes. Those players were identified as Danny Hitless (Dorm EA1), Kevin Containment (EA2), Joker Griffith (EA3), Zippy Patterson (EA4), and Nate Riccardi (EA5).

While no players were injured in the incident, the five players mentioned above lost most of what they own and may not have their minds on baseball for a while. Only 31 of the 40 dorms had been occupied, so all five players can move to new dorms while they take care of replenishing clothes and other supplies.

Overseer McNamara also ordered that her engineers test the wiring of the remaining 35 dorms to ensure no more would experience similar problems.

4 March 2296 – Jamaica Plain Player Too Honest

When he was a boy growing up in Covenant, Jamaica Plain second baseman Honest Dan Mathews was known then as just Danny. A visiting mercenary who called himself Honest Dan passed through for an investigation Matthews did not understand, but he fell in love with the man’s name and assumed it as his own later.

Living up to his assumed name, Matthews made it his life’s mission always to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences. Well, after an incident at the Drumlin Diner, Matthews is honestly going to need to learn how to cook.

After eating a mirelurk egg omelet, Matthews complained that the omelet was “so bad it could turn a deathclaw pink.” Well, Drumlin Diner cook Maxbear Sanders took exception to the insult and attacked Matthews with a frying pan. While Matthews got the better of Sanders in the end, Sanders insisted that Matthews be banned from the establishment. As one of the few eateries in the Jamaica Plain region, Drumlin Diner does not have to be the best food, but it is one of the few places serving the demanding bellies of the young people of the Commonwealth. It will be minus one of those bellies now.

In other news, Sanders was overheard planning a new menu item: Pink Deathclaw Fingers.

10 March 2296 – Cool Has a New Voice

Zeke and the Cats have announced that the Atom Cats Radio Network is “going to be the A, B, and Double C” of all Commonwealth baseball broadcasts. Not happy with the drag that is the official media on Diamond City Radio and WRVR, Zeke announced that the ACRN would broadcast all home games for the Atom Cats.

According to Zeke, “Hey all you cool cats and chicks, we’re not down with the town when it comes to them squares in the radio biz. We’re no wet rags here at the Garage. We want to party like it’s 1957, ya dig? Our Atom Cats Radio is going to be the boss of the Commonwealth, baby. It’s hip. It’s fab. And it’s got a lot of pizzazz.”

Nate Howard was unavailable for comment. Before the Atom Cats’ announcement, there were plans for both DCR and WRVR to each broadcast at least one home weekend series for each team in the Commonwealth Baseball Organization, meaning that each team would be featured in at least six games on the season. With the Atom Cats’ announcement, it appears that there may be an uneven amount of coverage, depending on the strength of the Atom Cat’s signal. Currently, DCR and WRVR can be heard throughout the Commonwealth.

11 March 2296 – Bloodbugs Newcomer Needs Amputation

Chopstick McWilliams has only been with County Crossing for two weeks, and he already has experienced problems.

While apparently on a date with one of the chemists at Doc Weathers’ chem and meds manufacturing plant, McWilliams and his date, later identified as Maggy Weathers, decided they needed a little more privacy. The only place nearby where no one else goes is an abandoned nuclear power plant station.

The couple intended to have time to themselves, but instead emerged themselves in a toxic soup of nuclear waste. Both immediately started growing new limbs from their legs where they stepped in the nuclear puddle. Both will also require amputations and recovery time.
McWilliams grew a new pair of legs from his left calf muscle. While he will heal just fine, there will be some time for the muscle to be reshaped and rehabilitated.

Doc Weathers asked that the entire nuclear plant be fenced off with radiation warnings instead of just being understood as a no-man’s land. “I could have lost my daughter,” Weathers said. “Either that, or she could have become a twin. And I don’t want either of those to happen.”

Weathers also requested that his players stay "a ball field away" from his daughter from now on.

14 March 2296 – Giddyup Buttercup Donkey Kicks Knuckle Puncher

Youngster Ethan Lynch thought it would be funny to mechanize a horse-sized Giddyup Buttercup and ride it into practice. Unfortunately for the undrafted reliever, he overpowered the metal toy and turned a slow ride into a bucking bronco. Lynch was thrown from the metallic beast and then caught a hoof to his nose, enveloping the young man in oil, blood, and tears.

After the rogue toy was put down with a frag grenade, Lynch was treated for a broken nose to go along with a broken spirit. He will rest for a couple of days while the swelling goes down, but he is expected to be available for the preseason tournament in five days.

15 March 2296 – Cautious Learns Irony

Egret Scrappers reliever Danny Cautious learned a lesson in irony as he was injured in a freak accident over the weekend.

Cautious was collecting firewood just east of Egret Tours Marina to cook some fresh radstag meat when he tripped over a frag mine near the train tracks. The trip probably saved his life, with the shrapnel only tearing through his boots and slashing his feet.

Cautious will have to spend a few weeks in the Egret Tours Marina Clinic while a Miss Nanny meticulously pulls the metal shards out of his feet.

16 March 2296 – Hayes Close to Sitting

After the terrible incident that left Goodneighbor Hancocks infielder Jumper Hayes with a . . . strain to his gluteus, the team has announced that he is close to being ready to play.

Hayes has been sitting for longer periods of time. He will try to practice with the team and sit on the bench. He may even take the field at the Four Leafs Invitational if he feels down to it.

17 March 2296 – Protest Interrupts Quincy Parade

A parade to celebrate the Gunners Invitational for the host team from Quincy and visiting teams from Lexington, Salem, and Shaw High School was cut short today amid protests.

Around 100 picketers blocked the path’s parade through Downtown Quincy in protest of the team taking the Gunners name. They held signs reading such things as “Kill off the Gunners for good” and “My family was killed by Gunners.”

Quincy team owner Smiling Larry tried to address the crowd, but they were offended by his face. He was pelted with tatos and mutfruit as he tried to explain the financing and how he had no love for the Gunners gang, blah blah blah.

Protester Mabel Furcat, who made her way to the protest from the Finch Farm area, said, “My settlement was attacked by Gunners who killed people just because they needed more bullets. How dare a baseball team adopt their name? They were killers. It is gross to think people will cheer for Gunners. It makes me ill.” Furcat then spat on the ground to show her disgust.

While local militia and volunteer peacekeepers were able to remove the group, Quincy mayor, Jun Long, said that he was too shaken up and could not allow the parade to continue. No word yet about whether or not Commissioner Nate Howard was made aware of the event. He is expected to be at Starlight Drive-In for the Lady Killers Invitational. Who knows how many women will be protesting that one, am I right?

19 March 2296 – Sunshine Tidings Down a Pitcher

The Sunshine Tidings attempted to pose for a picture while in an underdeveloped section of University Point. While there had been repairs to the building, no one considered that 40 burly boys and men standing on a single platform could be dangerous.

As expected, the platform collapsed, causing most of the Chemists players to suffer only minor cuts, scrapes and bruises. All except pitcher Bill Sarnacki who ended up with a post pinning his leg at an awkward position with the weight of several men on top.

Though he was pumped up with some stimpacks to help the healing, Sarnacki suffered a broken leg and was transported via pack brahmin to The Castle so that he can get top-notch care from Minutemen surgeons. Broken limbs are often quick-healing injuries thanks to medical technology, but, of course, they still take some time.

Sunshine Tidings is now down to two starting pitchers for the Deathclaws Invitational. They will consider attempting to use multiple pitchers for their third game and potential fourth day.

19 March 2296 – Tournament Coverage at Starlight Drive-In

We at Publick Occurences are focusing our first coverage of the Commonwealth Baseball organization at Starlight Drive-In since the commissioner, Nate Howard, is present. While we are focusing our coverage here, we will use reports from around the Commonwealth for scores and any news reports we may receive.

For our coverage, we will feature all games at our location, giving a quick recap of the days’ events in that day’s late edition. We are also broadcasting all games live, so tune in to Diamond City Radio to hear the games come to your room or wherever you are listening to the game.

Play ball!

[StLee]

A Win for Boston, A Win for Blue

by Piper Wright

Starlight Drive-In -- I call these the Blue Days. Not because of sadness. Not because the sky seems to have changed from the brown drabness and frequent radstorms. No, these are the Blue Days for a different reason. Because of Blue. You may know him as Nate Howard, the royalty of the Commonwealth. The Peacemaker. The Sole Survivor. Today the Commissioner of Baseball. But for me he will always be Blue.

I first met the man from another time just outside Diamond City. At the time the mayor of DC, Mayor McDonough, had locked me out because he did not like the news I was reporting. A fellow in a blue vault jumpsuit walked up on me, and the rest for me was history.

He was a man from before the war, frozen like a popsicle, but forced to watch his wife murdered and his child get kidnapped. He was desperate and manic, but I could see in him at the time that there was something special about him. And oh boy was there.

After time passed and he found his son and overcame his demons, Blue did something no one ever thought possible. He tamed the Commonwealth. Later, with the help of a trenchcoat-wearing stranger, Blue brought more than hope to the Commonwealth. He brought fun and taught people how to look forward to the next day, to have hope.

In the last few months, there has been a buzz louder than a horde of bloatflies. That buzz has been all about a game that has been around longer than anyone can remember. Baseball.

I know I would sometimes look at the pennants hanging in The Great Green Jewel. At the time, we called that structure Diamond City. Those banners had a peculiarity to them. The last pennant there read 1918, the last year the Boston team that played there won a championship.

Fun fact: the day the bombs dropped that formed this wasteland that we call the Commonwealth, Boston was hosting a team from Texas for the championship. The Boston team was up three games to zero and was set to win the championship for the first time in 159 years.

But they never did. That same day, Blue and his family was ushered into one of Vault-Tec's famed vaults where they were frozen in small metal tanks. That time was for 210 years. Blue was ready to see Boston win in baseball, but instead he had to wait 210 years to escape his ice prison. Nine years after that, Blue finally gets to see Boston win with the start of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization.

Today, four teams are gathered at Starlight Drive-In to play at Valentine Detective Agency Field. These four teams--the Lady Killers, Scrappers, Bloodbugs, and Treasures--are not playing in Boston proper, but they are representing Boston winning at baseball. Name one other place than the Commonwealth where baseball is being played right now? There may be a place, but it is doubtful.

In five other places in the Commonwealth, other teams are experiencing that same buzz: Greygarden, University Point, Finch Farms, Quincy, and Fort Hagen. People are more excited for the start of this tournament than anything else. Blue told me baseball was once considered to be America's pastime.

Now it's our, the Commonwealth's, pastime. Here's to Boston winning a championship for the first time in 378 years. Here's to Blue.

[StLee]

Starlight Drive-In

Game One: Jamaica Plain Treasures 14, Starlight Lady Killers 9 – POG: RF David Seaweed, JP

RF David Seaweed reached all six times he went up to bat, going 3 for 3 with 2 homeruns, three walks, three runs scored, and two RBI in the Treasures’ win.

Jamaica Plain had a total of 17 hits. The Lady Killers finished with 19 hits, but only four of those were extra-base hits. The Treasures had nine extra-base hits, with five of those being homeruns.



Game Two: County Crossing Bloodbugs 8, Egret Scrappers 5 – POG: 3B T.J. McMath, CC

The Bloodbugs outscored the Scrappers 4-1 in the 9th inning to take the opening victory. Four and five hitters 1B Josh Noggin and 3B T.J. McMath hit back-to-back homeruns in the 9th to help the Bloodbugs to victory. McMath hit two homeruns in the game, going 3 for 5 on the day. Bad Company Grognak got the win for County Crossing by pitching 8 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs, 4 earned, on 6 hits.



Other scores:
Four Leafs 11, Radstags 9 – POG: 3B Peter Tatoeater, FF
Adamantium 6, T-51s 5, 12 inn. – POG: P Sheng Kowalski, ABE
Chemists 5, Deathclaws 3 – POG: CF Frank Corsica, ST
Mirelurks 4, Assaultrons 3 – POG: P John Diner, WAR
Party Boys 17, Cats 6 – POG: CF Steve Gunkill, NB
Dwellers 23, Hancocks 11 – POG: SS Knud Bather, V81
Witch Hats 10, Synths 1 – POG: P Terrence Artman, SAL
Ghouls 7, Swatters 6 – POG: RF Boots Yellowhair
Yao Guai 5, Silver Shroud 4, 10 inn. – POG: P Bow Rome, FHE
Knuckle Punchers 5, Gunners 4, 12 inn. – POG: P Brad Westing

Player of the Day: Knud Bather, SS, Vault 81 Dwellers

Anyone wearing a glove and sitting in the bleachers for today's Dwellers-Hancocks game had a good chance at snagging a home run ball.

Vault 81 shortstop Knud Bather thrice sent eager fans scurrying to catch a souvenir, helping lead the Vault 81 to a 23-11 win over Goodneighbor.

"Hey, the three homers were great, but I'm just trying to help my ballclub," Bather said later. "I'm not going out there thinking I need another home run."

Bather was 3-for-4 on the day with 5 RBI.

Knud Bather hit a two-run home run off Quincy Eloquent in the 1st, walked in the 2nd, walked in the 3rd, walked in the 5th, flied out in the 6th, hit a solo-shot off Steve Maskhelm in the 8th and hit a two-run home run off Nick Kifer in the 9th.

[StLee]

Starlight Drive-In

Game One: Starlight Lady Killers 9, County Crossing Bloodbugs 6 – POG: SS Justin People, STAR

Lady Killers shortstop Justin People went 4 for 4, including 3 doubles in helping his team defeat County Crossing. He scored twice and drove in a run while batting eighth in the lineup.



Game Two: Egret Scrappers 17, Jamaica Plain Treasures 5 – POG: C Tony Tamez, ETM

Egret dominated Jamaica Plain from the first inning on to send the Lady Killers Invitational into a Day 3 elimination day. With the win, the Scrappers ensured that all four teams in the tournament are 1-1, meaning the two Day 3 winners will face off in the championship game on Sunday.

Player of the Day: Tony Tamez, C, Egret Scrappers

Tamez was on fire, going 4 of 6, with a double and homerun. He also scored three runs, drove in six, and walked once. His first-inning homerun was a three-run blast off Jamaica Plain starter Chad Adamczyk.



Other scores:

Radstags 6, Hancocks 5 – POG: 3B James Kimbrough, GOOD

Silver Shroud 6, Assaultrons 3 – POG: SP All Day Acosta, FH

Adamantium 2, Atom Cats 1 – POG: SP Joe Penaltybox, ABE

Ghouls 6, Chemists 0 – POG: SP Sage Monticello, SLOG

Dwellers 15, Four Leafs 8 – POG: SS Knud Bather, V81

Yao Guai 4, Mirelurks 2 – POG: SP Gerald Jerry, FHE

T-51s 10, Party Boys 5 – POG: LF Prof Castillo

Knuckle Punchers 8, Witch Hats 7 – POG: 1B Matt Ratican, SHAW

Gunners 14, Synths 13, 10 inn. – POG: CF Flatface Parker, QUIN

Swatters 7, Deathclaws 3 – POG: 3B Allen Bishop, DC

[StLee]

My ulterior motive for this preseason tournament is to see which settings I need to tweak (like realizing after I ran the games that I had the game summaries turned off, which was supposed to be a bit of a time saver for me instead of writing stories or blurbs on each game. There may need to be some mistakes in the first season but I'll try my best to get this right. I know for the regular season I will feature two series per weekend series (only one three-game series per team per weekend) with previews and stories and try to bring some life to the kooky characters involved.

[StLee]

Starlight Drive-In

Game One: Jamaica Plain Treasures 11, County Crossing Bloodbugs 6 – POG: C John Atomson, JP

Jamaica Plain used an 8-run 8th inning help propel them to the Lady Killers Invitational over County Crossing. Trailing 6-3 entering the 8th inning, the Treasures used a grand slam by RF Davis Seaweed and a bases-clearing double by game MVP C John Atomson to propel themselves over the Bloodbugs.

Atomson, batting out of the 8th spot in the lineup, went 3 for 4 with two doubles, scored twice, drove in three runs, walked once, and struck out once.



Game Two: Egret Scrappers 17, Starlight Lady Killers 6 – POG: RF Crops Gerdenheimer, ETM

Egret turned a close game into a blowout with a 12-run 8th inning. The Scrappers trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the 7th inning before taking the lead on game MVP Crops Gerdenheimer’s second homerun of the day. His first homerun was a three-run blast in the 3rd inning.

All of the Scrappers other extra-base hits came in the 12-run 8th inning. Catcher Tony Tamez hit a triple, and left fielder Paladin Danse and pinch hitter Jared Pterror each homered. Danse’ homer was a three-run shot, while Pterror hit a grand slam.

Player of the Day: Crops Gerdenheimer, RF, Egret Scrappers

Gerdenheimer was 3 for 5 on the day with 2 homeruns, 3 runs scored, and 6 RBI.



Other scores:

Synths 5, Knuckle Punchers 1 – POG: SP Chris Morgen, LEX

Assaultrons 9, Yao Guai 7 – POG: 2B Elijah Horne, FHE

Adamantium 9, Party Boys 3 – POG: 3B Joel Mutfruit, ABE

Gunners 5, Witch Hats 3 – POG: RF Ryan Wegott, QUIN

Ghouls 8, Deathclaws 6 – POG: 1B Jeremy Nicholson, UP

Radstags 6, Dwellers 3 – POG: SP Noah Williams, CON

Swatters 6, Chemist 3, 10 inn. – POG: SS Chris Wickliffe, ST (GW: 2B Danny Suarez hit 10th inning 3-run homer)

Mirelurks 8, Silver Shroud 3 – POG: 1B Random Lurkcakes, WAR

Atom Cats 18, T-51s 15, 11 inn. – POG: LF Jeremy Schoolboy, ATOM (GW: 1B Will Ashfire hit an 11th inning grand slam to win it. Atom Cats trailed 15-11 entering the bottom of the inning)

Four Leafs 5, Hancocks 4 – POG: SP Bruce Iddings, GOOD

[StLee]

Two questions concerning pictures:

1. How can I save a complete boxscore with everything included in that file? I would like to upload complete box scores with the game summary and everything to my dynasty, but I can only seem to get that through multiple screenshots spliced together. I would like to save time instead of doing that!

As you can see in my box score pictures above, I zoomed out on my browser to try to get a full screen capture, but those box scores are difficult to read on here. They are blurry!

2. How do I resize any photo to the proper 135x90 for the owner/coach photos? I want pictures instead of Facegen for those, but I cannot seem to ever resize them correctly to show up in game. My old-school program is Photoshop CS3, but I can only seem to lock in files to their dimensions or play the guessing game for the 135x90 size. Regardless of what I do, I can't seem to get my pictures to load to the right size or appear under the owner's files like I am attempting to upload.

[StLee]

Starlight Drive-In

Lady Killers Invitational Championship: Jamaica Plain Treasures 7, Egret Scrappers 3, 10 inn. – POG: 1B Carney Cornseed, JP



In an exciting finish, Jamaica Plain took the Lady Killers Invitational by defeating the Egret Scrappers 7-3 in 10 innings. Left fielder Carney Cornseed’s grand slam in the top of the 10th proved to be the game-winner, giving Cornseed the Player of the Game award. For the day, Cornseed was 2 for 5 with the grand slam, a run scored, and four RBI.

Treasures starting pitcher Will Rope looked to earn the victory in the game, allowing just one run on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts in eight innings. However, closer Ryan Hartley could not finish the job, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in the ninth. He was still credited with the win once the Treasures retook the lead in the tenth. Matt Mercadante pitched the final inning to shut down Egret.

The Scrappers had ten hits, all singles, in the game, with their four hits in the bottom of the ninth being the most they produced all game. Third baseman Jason Juras and second baseman Dustin Bowfiddle led the way with three singles each.

[StLee]

Four Leafs Invitational Semifinal: Four Leafs 12, Radstags 3

Silver Shroud Invitational Championship: Mirelurks 7, Yao Guai 2 – POG: SP John Diner, WAR



Deathclaws Invitational Championship: Swatters 11, Ghouls 3 – POG: SP X10-44 Mannson, DC



Gunners Invitational Championship: Knuckle Punchers 13, Gunners 1 – POG: 1B Matt Ratican, SHAW



T-51s Invitational Championship: Abernathy – no game due to the Adamantium going 3-0



Four Leafs Invitational Championship: Dwellers 11, Four Leafs 8 – POG: 3B Terry O’Dell, V81



Player of the Day: Joe Mahaney, 1B, Finch Farm
5 for 6, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R in two games

[StLee]

Two of those did not look as good once posted, so I switched colors, which will probably stick for the rest of the way. I'll have to figure out how to make the Diamond City Swatters banner look better, too.

[Tyke]

The banners look great - and your two "alternates" do look clearer than the originals.

[Sizeman21]

Yes I agree, I love the banners as well. Really nice. Good job StLee

[StLee]

Originally Posted by Tyke

The banners look great - and your two "alternates" do look clearer than the originals.

Thank you! And thank you for the input on the banners. I used banners in another dynasty I had that somehow I lost in time, but I loved doing the banners. Therefore, I thought the Commonwealth would be a great place to include them with all of the faction flags in the Fallout 4 game.

[StLee]

Originally Posted by Sizeman21

Yes I agree, I love the banners as well. Really nice. Good job StLee

Thank you! I believe they will be here to stay for this dynasty. At least the banners give me an idea of ways to make the teams have a little more color and life.

[StLee]

This Month in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski


23 March 2296 –Howard Praises Preseason Tournaments, Addresses Protest in Quincy

Commissioner Nate Howard gave each of the hosts praise for their tournaments.

“I want to thank the six host settlements for all their efforts,” Howard said at Starlight Drive-In. “I enjoyed my time watching the Bloodbugs, Lady Killers, Scrappers, and Treasures. It was a joy to see the players show off all their hard work, and I can’t wait for the first regular season to start.”

This reporter was in attendance and asked the commish about the purported incident in Quincy. He described it as “unfortunate” but also mentioned that he would like to hear personally from the protesters and seek solutions for their concerns.

When asked about other potentially threatening names, like the host team, the Starlight Lady Killers, Howard mentioned that the name itself was slang and not meant as a literal interpretation.

He also mentioned that a lot of traditional team names included double entendre. “I mean, I played on a softball team called the Angry Dolphins, for mercy sake," Howard said. "The Angry Dolphins.”

This reporter is not sure what Howard meant by references to "softball," slang, double entendre, nor "Angry Dolphins," but I suppose politicians will be politicians when it comes to answering questions directly. In the meantime, there may be more questions about some of the baseball teams’ nicknames.

25 March 2296 – Runaway History Bites Witch Hat

Little Johnny Orphan may make it in the Commonwealth Baseball Organization, but he has a lot of maturing to do.

The 16-year-old reliever, Orphan, is on his tenth different team, and the official start of the spring season does not start until tomorrow.

Barney Rook gave the young man a "talking to" in a team gathering, telling the young man that committing to something is the very thing he needs.

Orphan has not switched teams so often because teams are looking to muddle through the waiver wire, but because Orphan has quit on his team each time practice got rough. He tried the same thing today, but teammates and Rook convinced him he would be “****** up a ***** with a ********* **** *****” if he quit on them. Also, Rook told him that all contractual payment was being withheld until he completed a month’s service with the team or was released before that time.

Whether Orphan stays or goes this time, he definitely does not want to ****** up a ***** with a ********* **** *****. Nobody does!

26 March 2296 – Gambling Problem Haunts Yao Guai Pitcher

Fairline Hill Estates pitcher Crick Dubya stands out in a crowd. At 6’7” the pitcher stands a head above many, which means it is tough when he is trying not to be seen.

That was especially evident when an unseemly loan shark and gang leader at Easy City Downs, Babyface Aorta, paid Dubya a visit. Apparently, before heading to Diamond City from Lynn Woods for the draft, Dubya made a detour to Easy Town to gamble on the robot races. He paid for his gambling by taking out a loan from Babyface. After losing all day at the track, Dubya headed off without repaying his debts.

Yesterday, Babyface found Dubya, and there was an issue. For one, a group of guards was able to chase away Babyface and his diaper-wearing goons. That means Babyface is probably going to put a hit on Dubya. Two, Dubya will soon get a visit from the commish based on a strict no gambling rule in the league. In all fairness, Dubya gambled at Easy City Downs before he became a league player. However, if that gambling past jumps out of the bushes and shouts “Boo!” then there be ghosts in Dubya’s pantry, or however that phrase goes.

30 March 2296 – Incident in Oberland

After a team meeting in Greygarden, young reliever Vince McCort returned to his loft shack at Oberland Station to get some rest, where he discovered Third Saturday Montana allowing his molerat to root through McCort’s porch garden. Angered by the animal ruining his silt beans and tatos, McCort stabbed the beast to death with a combat knife. Montana tried to intervene on his pet’s behalf, but McCort turned on him and stabbed Montana three times in the abdomen. Onlookers intervened before McCort could deliver the final slash.

Montana was rushed to the Oberland Clinic where he is in critical condition. McCort was escorted to the guardhouse to be processed for attempted murder. If Montana passes away, McCort would have more severe charges.

Oberland T-51s owner August Oberland made a statement:
“When I built up this settlement from nothing more than a train station to one of the more important trading posts, I thought I had accomplished two great things up until now: a safe place and a peaceful place. Due to the incident today, I learned I was fooling myself. I’m trying to do too much, and I need to rethink what I can do to keep Oberland what I dreamed it could be. I know Mr. McCort is not from here and where he’s from that may be acceptable action, but it’s not here. Old Third Saturday [Montana] also has to understand that his pets need to have limits. Both of them messed up today, and I hope [Montana] pulls out of it and we can move on. With that said, McCort is suspended from the team, probably forever, but I will file it with the league office to make it official.”

[StLee]

OK. I think I just had to change the border of the text to get to a more authentic Red Sox color scheme. I was trying to stop from needing to make too many microtransactions, but it MUST look right!

The correct banner: