In a grinding back-and-forth affair that saw the greater luck roll Eric’s way, Koop Island Blues upset favored Constantinople Manatees, 4 games to 3. 

Scores:

Game 1: CN 8-3

Game 2: KIB 7-5 (10 innings)

Game 3: KIB 5-3

Game 4: CN 6-0

Game 5: CN 6-3

Game 6: KIB 8-1

Game 7: KIB 5-4

Prologue: Tom owned Eric (in a non-slavish way) during the regular season, winning 7 of 8. But a look inside the numbers showed that most of the games were tight, so Eric had reason to believe he would not get swept away by Ohtani and company.

Game 1 was not the romp the final score indicates. The score was just 4-3 CN thru the top of the 7th when CN dope-slapped Tanner Scott with consecutive bombs (Friedl and Jung), padding 4 runs on their one-run lead to take home the win in front of adoring, snorting, flipper-clapping fans. Eric was already gearing up for a quick departure. 

Game 2 saw KIB go up 3-0 thru 4, but CN scored a single run in the 5th and then put up a 4-spot in the 7th to take a 5-3 lead. But in the top of the 8th lefty specialist Ryan Borucki gave up a single to Soto and a homer to Alvarez (off Borucki’s card, 1-4 chance) and just like that the game was tied. To the top of the 10th we went, and with two outs Mr. Clutch Luis Arraez stroked a two-run single to center. Vest shut down CN to nail the save.

Game 3 looked like an early romp, with KIB going up 5-0 after two on Lefty Garrett, but then Garrett settled into a groove and shut down KIB for the next four innings before giving way to Neris. For KIB, Wacha and a parade of relievers kept the fort, even with Moll coughing up two in the 8th. Tough luck Tom missed 3 BP HRs by lefties, 1-12. Two by Friedl, one by Ohtani. Friedl’s second miss came with two on, and would have given CN the lead.

Game 4 was the only true romp as CN went up by 5 after three innings off Verlander. Miller sailed through the KIB lineup, stranding runners all across the diamond. For this part, Verlander pulled a Nate Eovaldi. Up 2 games to 1, KIB had expended a lot of reliever innings over the first 3 games, and Verlander was told going in that if he got behind early he’d be left on the hill with no support. Despite giving up those 5 early runs, he never got tired until he reached his 8-inning limit, and finished the 9th to great applause from teammates and fans.

KIB’s rested pen didn’t factor into Game 5, however. CN was up 5-1 after just 2 and hung on for a 6-3 win to take a 3 to 2 series lead heading home. CN’s Ragans bamboozled KIB while KIB’s Valdez was (for the 2nd time this series) utterly ineffective and supported by absolutely no offense. The game played out exactly how Tom had hoped: get up early, and hang on for dear life. Arraez helped Tom’s cause by hitting into two rally-killing double plays, including a game-ending twin-killer in the 9th. 

Now with their backs to the wall in Game 6, heading to Building 19 Park “where homers go to die,” KIB needed Logan Gilbert to be the pitcher he’ll be next year now, and sure as Future Wax he was, going six scoreless and leaving with a slim 1-0 margin. With the game still one nil in the top of the 8th, seldom used (and regular-season disappointment) Adolis Garcia stepped to the plate with one on against (close your eyes, Tom) Borucki, and skied a shot to left that somehow managed to Bucky 'Fucking' Dent itself over the fence (another 1-4 chance) to give KIB a 3-0 lead. CN muscled a run across in the bottom of the frame on a sac fly, but in the top of the 9th KIB batted around again to Garcia, this time with two out and bases juiced, and he crushed a Neris hanger for a granny and the KO. This is a guy who had 1 homer and 4 rbis all year.

Game 7 came down to the expiring pens. Both starters (Garrett and Wacha) were gone by the 2nd, but the defining moment of the game (and the series, probably) occurred on the very first batter, when Yandy Diaz hit a high diamond and rolled a “1,” a fucking one, which prompted Tom to slowly bow his head in order to allow his pain and rage to pass through him until he could return to the game a higher plane. Though KIB was up 3-1 after only two, CN tied the game with single runs in the 4th and 5th. But in the top of the 6th Arenado hit a huge, 2-out double off (one last time) Borucki that plated two. Friedl brought CN to within one run with a solo blast in the bottom of the 8th, and CN had two runners on with two out and Raleigh at the plate, but Tarik Skubal put him away with high heat for the series win.

For the series, CN hit five home runs, three of which came in the first game, and the last of which came in the 8th inning of game 7. The only other dinger came in the game 3 loss. Don’t get him started. He missed (by my count) 8 BP HRs, 5 in KIB’s more hitter-friendly park, and also had two clutch outs. KIB managed 9 homers. Skubal had two saves for KIB.

CN and Neverwinter split day 2 of their battle.
Neverwinter came to Florida hot and took the first 2 games. 

Game 1 Bregman hit his split to get a 2 run homer and CN missed everything to lose 2-0.Game 2 Neverwinter went up 5-0 early and CN could not get the timely hit against Montgomery and he went the distance to win 7-1.

Game 3 CN broke through and scored 3 in the 6 and Brasier who had yet to be used in 2 days got the 2 inning save to give CN the 3-0 win

Game 4 Giolito who is all Ballpark homers and N homers and nothing else pitched 7 giving up 3 runs but Devers tried to play the first inning with his glove on the wrong hand and Neverwinter scored 2 early and then tied up the game in the 8^th.  Teams went into extra innings and in the bottom of the 10 saw CN walk twice and then the mutant came up against a right hander and walked to give CN the split on three straight walks.

The cold weather didn't treat the Mantatees very well as they ventured up north for the series.

Game 1:  Neverwinter wins 6 - 5. Neverwinter jumps out to a 2-0 lead after 1 via an Alex Kirilloff HR.  Constantinople battles back to take the lead in the 4^th courtesy of a few doubles and a 2-run homer by Josh Jung, giving them the lead 5-3.  That would be the end of the Mantatee offense however as a two spot in the 7^th and a walk of double by Freddie Freeman secures the victory.

Game 2:  Neverwinter wins 4-2. Neverwinter again homers in the 1^st inning, a solo shot by Alex Bregman.  The game ended up tied after 7 at two in a good pitchers dual between Bradish and Miller.  Neverwinter breaks the tie with two off of Phillips via four singles.  Bautista closed out the game in the 9th earning the save.

Game 3: Neverwinter wins 4 - 1. A pitchers dual between Merrill Kelly and Drew Rasmussen.  The Alpacas finally break though with single runs in the 6^th and 8^th plus two in the 7^th to secure the win.  A ballpark HR from Yaz being the biggest blow.  Justin Topa recorded the save after eight strong from Kelly.

Game 4: Neverwinter wins 8-6 in 10 innings. In a battle of the lefties, neither factored in the decision.  The Alpacas hit four solo homers in the 2nd, almost tiring Mantatee starter Cole Ragans.  The add another in the 4^th via another solo HR.  E. Rog cruising gets pulled after the 7^th inning.  The Alpaca bullpen then throws gasoline on the fire and the Mantatees storm back taking a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the 8^th inning.  A pinch-hit RBI single by Alex Krilloff ties it in the 8^th .  A two-run walk off homer by Freeman wins it for the home squad.

The Alpacas hit a bunch of splits, including two 1-5 HR's.  

... 

FW at BC

Keeping their slim playoff hopes alive, BC took 3 of 4 from last place Future Wax in the Rollers’ final home series of the season to move within one game of fourth place.

Game 1—Corbin Burnes continued his recent spate of uninspired pitching, going 6 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and a Snellian 7 walks. The teams were tied at 3, but Bay City scored 4 unanswered runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks mainly to a 3-run homer by Riley Greene. A timely defensive change of Heim (a 1 e1) for Diaz (a 3 e3) at catcher to start the ninth paid immediate dividends as pinch hitter Pasquantino hit into a rare catcher-started double play to foil the Wax’s chance of a comeback. Strider took the loss and had elbow surgery the next day.

Game 2—Future Wax erased a 2-run BC lead (Albies homer) in the fourth, scoring 4 runs as Gerrit Cole gave up 6 hits in the inning but avoided tiredness. A Benson homer and Gelof triple produced two more FW runs, and Strahm and Swanson closed out the 6-3 win for starter Peralta.

Game 3—Bay City got two homers from Nolan Jones and one from Corbin Carroll to account for all the Rollers’ runs in its 6-4 win, as Gallen bested Grayson Rodriguez. BC got strong relief from Ginkel, less strong from Romero, and the final out from Uribe.

Game 4—Gausman pitched 6 2/3 strong innings for FW until his arm fell off, but it wasn’t quite strong enough, as BC got the 3-2 victory. The Rollers were up 2-0 but Randy got solo runs in the seventh and eighth to tie it. Bobby Witt led off the eighth with what looked to be a homer 1 chance (versus a righty) but was actually a homer 1-11 chance (versus a lefty); Matt Strahm (lefty) was pitching, and Robin rolled a 5. Hamilton, Cosgrove, and Ginkel relieved the much denigrated (by Robin) Blake Snell (who walked only 5 in 6 1/3 innings but allowed an un-Snell-like 6 hits).

So for the non-computer notes of the day – Jed was snake- bitten over and over again as his great defense gave up multiple errors. In his chance to win the final game in the 10^th Marsh was his Ghost runner and Lewis hit him in to tie the game. Garver then hit a open double with an injury and Lewis comes around and is thrown out at home on a 19 and Garver pulled into 3^rd.  I figured at this point let a pitcher run for Garver, (who had already been injured) because there is no way we are going to undo the injury and then get the results we want (AP note - why not use manual entry?) and I was thinking the game was over with one out in the bottom of a tied 10^th.  Jeffers hit a fielders choice getting Garver/Nola at home and then Pena hits into an out.  Then in the 11^th CN goes up by one leaving the bases loaded. In the bottom of the 10th, Pena the speedy is on 2^nd.  CFx moves Pena to 3^rd and then Suzuki hits into the drawn in infield for the 2^nd out as Pena is thrown out for yet another play at the plate.  A missed ballpark single (all 1's in Jed's park) and it is over CN wins 3.

Computer notes –

Game 1: Corey Seager had 2 base hits and 2 RBI at Rehoboth Parking Lot as the Constantinople Manatees beat the Oceanus Assholes 6 to 5. Constantinople had 4 runs cross the plate in the 3rd inning when they had 5 base hits.  That early run support was all that Bobby Miller required. Oceanus threatened in the 9th but their rally came up short. Logan Webb suffered the loss.  He was knocked around by Constantinople, allowing 10 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings. 

Pablo Lopez was the loser.  Despite losing, he struckout 9 Constantinople batters in 5 and 1/3 innings.

Game 3: Nico Hoerner had 2 base hits and Aaron Nola went 6 solid innings as the Oceanus Assholes defeated the Constantinople Manatees by a score of 2 to 0 at Rehoboth Parking Lot. Constantinople was unable to recover after Oceanus went ahead in the 2nd inning scoring one runner using 3 hits.  That was all Nola needed.  Nola got help from Camilo Doval who pitched great and earned his 1st save. Braxton Garrett was the loser.  He surrendered 8 hits and 1 walk in 7 innings.

Game 4: Luis Castillo dominated striking out 12 Oceanus batters as the Constantinople Manatees defeated the Oceanus Assholes in 11 innings by the score of 3 to 2 at Rehoboth Parking Lot. Both teams were tied at 1 runs apiece after nine innings.  Constantinople came out the victor in the 11th inning.  After an out was recorded, Cal Raleigh drew a walk.  Fernando Tatis Jr stepped up next and he drew a walk to load the bases.  Josh Jung struck out, unable to help the rally.  T.J. Friedl followed and he drew a walk scoring the run.  Constantinople had a total of 7 hits for the game. Ryan Borucki got the win allowing 1 run in 2 and 1/3 innings. Josh Hader ended up with the loss in relief.  He pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing no hits and 3 walks.

...

Draft Day, Saturday March 29.

Bay City left Neverwinter with a satisfying split, coming from behind in game 4 to send the Neverwinter fans home wanting more.Lots of X's in today's series up north, but only a few actual errors.  In game 4, Neverwinter tired Black Snell in the 2^nd inning but couldn't muster any runs after the 2^nd inning--failing to capitalize spelled doom for the Alpacas in the end. Offensive star for Bay City was Bobby Witt Jr., hitting .353 for the series, including three HR's, driving in six. Chas McCormick was the star for Neverwinter, hitting .412, including four HR's driving in nine.

Game 1:  Neverwinter over Bay City 12 - 1.Chas McCormick blasted 2 homeruns and had 4 RBI as the Bay City Rollers were badly beaten by the Neverwinter Alpacas, 12 to 1. McCormick had a good day at the plate. He clubbed a three-run home run in the 2nd inning and a solo home run in the 4th inning. Neverwinter out-hit Bay City 15 to 4. Kyle Bradish was the winner, allowing no runs in 6 innings. Justin Topa earned a three inning save. Corbin Burnes was the loser, allowing 13 hits and 4 walks in 7 innings.

Game 2:  Bay City over Neverwinter 3 - 0.Gerrit Cole was brilliant, allowing just 1 hit and 2 walks in 8 innings at Icewind Dale Corral where the Bay City Rollers beat the Neverwinter  Jojo Romero earned the save with a perfect ninth. The loss was charged to Eduardo Rodriguez. He allowed 7 hits and 1 walk in 7 innings.

Game 4:  Bay City over Neverwinter 8 - 7. BC shortstop Bobby Witt smacked a three-run homer in the 4th inning and tripled, which scored a run in the 6th inning. Bay City managed 14 hits in their victory. Jesse Chavez got credit for the victory, pitching 1 and 1/3 innings and allowing no runs. Kevin Ginkel recorded the save. Jordan Montgomery suffered the loss. He was knocked around pretty good, giving up 8 runs in 5 and 1/3 innings. Chas McCormick rocketed 2 homeruns and had 4 RBI in a losing cause for Neverwinter.

Ohtani pitched game 1. CN scored 4 in the first. (Eric “He [unnamed starter for Eric] is tired and I am leaving him in.”  Tom “That’s only 4 runs.” Eric “Then I am definitely leaving him in.”)  Ohtani held on to win the game 6-4. Save Borucki.

Game 2 was a battle of the lefties as Garret and Valdez faced each other. It was 0-0 through 7 as neither team could get a clutch hit. A 2 out bases loaded walk was the only run of the game - final CN 1-0. CN was happy to have guaranteed no worse than a split. 

Game 3 was just a bad game for Civale (we have said that a lot this year) as Alvarez hit a ballpark 3-run homerun (rolling a '1') to tire Civale and give KIB a 5-0 lead. Civale gave up 2 more and Verlander laughed at the CN offense giving up only 1 to even his record at 3-3.

Game 1:
In a tight game it was the New Orleans Ellis 4, the Future Wax Candles 2 at The Wax Home. Sonny Gray pitched well for New Orleans in their victory.  He surrendered 7 hits and 1 walk in 6 and 1/3 innings.  Gray was helped out by Jeff Hoffman who pitched a perfect ninth and recorded the save.Kevin Gausman was the losing pitcher.  He gave up 3 runs and 5 hits in 5
innings.

Game 2:
The New Orleans Ellis bested the Future Wax Candles by a 4 to 1 score at The Wax Home. New Orleans jumped on top to stay in the 2nd inning plating an isolated run. New Orleans managed only 6 hits on the night.  The winning pitcher was Zack Wheeler who allowed no runs in 7 and 2/3
innings. The loss was charged to Clayton Kershaw.  Although losing the contest, he whiffed 10 batters in 7 innings.  

Game 3:
Marcus Semien slammed a homerun and had 3 RBI and Sandy Alcantara went 8 solid innings as the New Orleans Ellis defeated the Future Wax Candles 4 to 1 at The Wax Home. New Orleans scored 2 runs in the decisive top of the 4th inning.  The highlight belonged to Semien who quieted the home crowd when he bombed a two-run dinger.  The Future Wax offense proved no trouble in the bottom of the 9th. The winning pitcher was Alcantara who allowed 1 run in 8 innings. Shawn Armstrong recorded the save.  Spencer Strider absorbed the loss. Despite the loss, he struckout 11 New Orleans batters in 6 and 2/3 innings.

Game 4:
The New Orleans Ellis defeated the Future Wax Candles by a score of 6 to 3 at The Wax Home. Griffin Jax got the win with a nice relief outing.  He was stingy on the mound, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk in 2 innings.  The Future Wax bats were silent in the bottom of the 9th. Reese Olson took the loss in relief.  New Orleans scored big getting 3 runs off him in 2 innings.

...
Draft Day, Saturday March 29.

It all started with Nootbar being injured for 2 games and CN and North Dakota going into extra innings tied at 4-4.  2 quick walks and then Mookie Betts hit a clean Grand Slam to give ND a 8-4 victory in sunny CN. That loss would be their only one of the day.

CN came back to take game 2 and knot the series at 1 when Ohtani hit a 3-run 8th inning ballpark (1-1) homer and held ND off for a 8-4 victory.

Looking at tired pitching and Nootbar still out, an unlikely mid series rainout (maybe caused by the Ohtani big fly) got 3 pitchers (1 for ND and 2 for CN) and Nootbar back into the series.

Game 3 was all CN as they beat ND 10-1, Harper’s 3-run blast broke the game open.

Game 4 was not only a nail biter but Bader was injured for 8 games (max injury).  CN held on for 6-5 after ND tied the game at both 2-2 and 4-4.  The 2-run CN 6th included a failed Contreras blocking the plate on fellow catcher Wil Smith and a ballpark homer sacrifice fly by Harper for the game deciding run.  ND had 2nd and 3rd and no outs in the 9th after turning down a 1-10 score on an open double roll. Suwinski later was thrown out by the drawn in infield for the 2nd out and the 4 at second made the final out on a 2Bx.

CN travelled to BC and they really enjoyed the Bay City Roller’s park.

Game 1 was an 11-1 shellacking that saw the tired Burnes just unable to get off without giving up runs in 4 different innings. CN hit 5 homers in the game (Devers-2, Ohtani, Tatis, Smith).

Game 2 saw Cy Young Gerrit Cole get tired early as CN went up 5-1 and then 7-2 on the way to a close 7-5 victory as Robin just could not roll low to save her team. CN hit 3 more homers (Devers, Raleigh, Ohtani) in this one.

Game 3 was 2-2 early as BC’s second Cy Young pitcher, Snell, faced CN.  CN went up 4-2 and was able to just strand the Rollers inning after innings, with Diaz, Phillips, Smith, and Brasier closing the door.  Tatis was injured for 2 games (max injury)

CN called up Neris, a pitcher, since CN had no other Outfielders to call up with 2 already injured.  CN went up early 4-0 scoring over 4 innings and Robin did score 1 run but CN prevailed 6-1, Ragans and Neris scattering 9 hits.

I have not done series stats yet so no idea who was the statistical star(s), but Arnie wanted shorter notes than other times. (AP note – thanks Tom, I did add in all your player names above to add a little flavor).

Enjoy Life and send me stats.

TSK

…

Draft Day, Saturday March 29.

Game 1—Corbin Burnes pitched like crap against his former team (6 innings, 10 hits including 2 homers, and 5 runs), but Bay City came away with the 10 inning 6-5 victory. Corbin Carroll slammed a homerun and scored 3 times for the Bay City Rollers, including as the ghost runner when Bobby Witt Jr hit a single making Bay City the winners and sending the 19,692 fans home happy. Abner Uribe(1-0) got credit for the victory, pitching 1/3 of an inning and allowing no runs. Ryan Pepiot(0-1) was the loser in relief.  He was the victim of a defensive lapse and did not allow an earned run in the game.

Game 2 was all Oceanus, as the Assholes tired Gerrit Cole in the first inning, thanks in part to atrocious outfield play by BC leftfielder Riley Greene, who allowed a bases-clearing double and two-base error on the same play. Cole gave up three tired singles en route to a 14-1 Oceanus victory. Center fielder Julio Rodriguez hit one over the fence and had 5 RBI. Oceanus finished with 15 hits while Bay City ended up with 9. Pablo Lopez went 7 innings allowing no runs for the victory. Cole allowed 14 hits and 4 walks in 8 innings. 

Game 3 featured a tense pitching duel between Aaron Nola and Blake Snell, and the cuter starter prevailed, as Oceanus emerged victorious in a 3-0 game (despite being outhit 8 to 5). Nola gave Oceanus a solid outing. He went 6 and 2/3 innings surrendering 6 hits and 1 walk.  The pitchers took over after the 3rd inning as neither team was able to score again. Jeffers was the hero, homering and throwing out Vlad Guerrero trying to steal. Pete Fairbanks gained credit for the save.

Game 4 featured ineffective starting pitching by both OC’s E. Perez and BC’s Gallen. In a thrilling finish, the Bay City Rollers won in dramatic fashion coming back to beat the Oceanus Assholes by the count of 7 to 6. Bay City came up with the deciding runs in the 9th inning. Pinch hitter Austin Hays (hitting for no relation Ke’ Bryan Hayes) tied it with a solo-shot. One out later, Bobby Witt Jr blasted a solo shot, giving Bay City the victory. Ian Hamilton went 2 innings allowing no runs for the victory. Fairbanks was the losing pitcher in relief. “We just wouldn't give up,” cute Ozzie Albies said. “Much of the credit goes to our fans - they were with us the whole way” (except for the boos raining down on leftfielder Greene).

Witt hit only .222 but had both game-winning RBIs.

Game 1:  Neverwinter wins 2 - 1

At The Wax Home, the Future Wax faithful were treated to an intriguing pitcher's duel. Kutter Crawford finally bested his Future Wax counterpart, Clayton Kershaw, by the score of 2 to 1. Neverwinter had 2 runs cross the plate in the top of the 2nd inning when they had 3 base hits. After an out was recorded, Josh Bell began the Neverwinter spurt when he singled. Matt McLain stepped up next and he bombed a two-run dinger. The early run support proved sufficient for Crawford and Neverwinter. That was all the run support Crawford required. The pitchers took over after the 2nd inning as neither team was able to score again. Felix Bautista earned the save. Kershaw was charged with the loss. He pitched 6 innings giving up 5 hits and 1 walk.

Game 2:  Neverwinter wins 7 - 3

The Neverwinter Alpacas defeated the Future Wax Candles by a score of 7 to 3 at The Wax Home. Eduardo Rodriguez gave a fine effort for Neverwinter. He was reached for 4 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings. Rodriguez mowed down 7 Future Wax batters. Neverwinter had 12 hits overall, while Future Wax had 5. Grayson Rodriguez was the losing pitcher. Neverwinter scored big getting 4 runs off him in 2 and 1/3 innings.

Game 3:  Future Was wins 3 - 1

In a game for the baseball purist, Spencer Strider and Merrill Kelly squared off in a tense pitching duel, Future Wax Candles finally emerged victorious over Neverwinter Alpacas, 3 to 1. Strider gave Future Wax a solid outing. He was reached for 5 hits and 6 walks in 6 and 2/3 innings. Future Wax had just 5 hits for the afternoon. Strider was helped out by Hunter Harvey who recorded the save.  All four runs were solo shots, three straight HR's.

Game 4:  Neverwinter wins 6 - 3

But then ND ran into Scherzer, who threw a complete-game shut out in his final spot start. (Scherzer showed some fatigue in the 7^th when he transitioned from his good card to his bad card, but got the job done.) Benson and Walker doubled back to back off Eflin in the 2^nd for the only run FW would need. Just to sure, Jankowski’s clutch hit added a run. FW later added 5 more runs (without any home runs) and coasted to a 7-0 victory.

To add injury to insult, Goldschmidt was hit by a pitch and injured early: he also missed the next two games.

ND finally plated a run at the start of the second game with the help of a Suwinski double with two on. But Parades also tried to score all the way from first but was gunned down at the plate by Jankowski. This proved important when Walker hit a 2-run blast for FW in the 2^nd. FW added 2 insurance runs in the 5^th on a Benson double with two on. They were needed, as Grichuk and Tucker each homered in the 9^th. With 2-out and one on, the mutant Evan Carter comes up. And strikes out to end the game. Strider pitched 7 innings (5 hits, 11 Ks, 1 run) and Harvey picked up an awkward save.

Yelich led off the third game for ND with a majestic blast, but that proved to be the only hit or run that Peralta would allow in 6 innings of work. FW answered in the 3^rd Gelof knocked in Tucker, after his lead off double. In the 5^th it was Turner who drove in Adames, after his leadoff double.

Things got strange in the 8^th when Arnie’s catcher was hit by a pitch and injured. He went to summon William Contreras from the bench, only to discover Willson Contreras on the bench – and light-hitting William Contreras in the game (even though Willson had been announced and Willson’s better arm (-3) had been used against FW speedsters). The managers decided to pretend Willson had been in the game the whole time (going 0 for 2 until the HBP that started this mess), and was now injured, and William was his replacement.

ND had the potential tying run on second in the top of the 9^th, but the game ended on a Kwan “death roll” in his column. Harvey picked up another save.

CN takes 3 from Future Wax in a strange series...

Game 1 No rainout so Ohtani would not be available against Strider.  CN got 2 early with timely hitting and a double play that scored a run.  Castillo looked good starting but Carpenter hit a triple in the 6th and Belt followed with a ballpark homer that ended up a sacrifice fly that saw CN clinging to a 2-1 lead after 6.  Phillips came on in the 8th for CN amd gave up a hit and a walk but held Wax. Brasier came out for the 9th and he gave up a double to Gelof but then survived the ballpark single chance to Murphy and struck out Machado for the save.  Arozarena was lost for 2 games early in this game.

Game 2 was a game that the gods of luck wanted Wax to win.  Adames hit a 3=run ballpark homer with 2 outs in the 2nd (1 roll) as Ohtani returned from injury and looked shaky.  Murphy hit a solo ballpark homer in the 6th to give Wax a 4-0 lead.  Friedl hit a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th to bring the game to 4-1.  The 7th saw CN put on 2 runners and Wax bought in Duran to face Nootbar and CN countered with Flores who hit a 3-run homer to tie the game.  FW's Murphy came to the plate with 2 outs in the 8th and hit a solo ballpark shot for the 3rd ballpark shot in the game in 3 chances and Wax went up 5-4.  In the bottom of the 8th, Ohtani hit a one out triple and then Devers hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.  CN bought in the defense and Williams came back out to try and hold Wax from retaking the lead.  Kelenic doubled and stole 3rd to lead off the 9th.  CN bought in the infield and got 2 quick Ks but then walked the next 2 Wax batters to load the bases and leave the game tied.  Borucki came in to strikeout Giminez (who had to bat after replacing Gelof for defense earlier in the game).  So the teams went to extras. CN's Neris got 3 straight outs surviving the 4th ballpark homer chance of the game for Wax.  Bottom of the 10th, Friedl went to 2nd as the ghost runner and after Ohtani struck out it was 2 outs and clutch for Jung.  Schneider came in to face the right hander and came through with a double to win the game.  Earlier in the game Belt struck out and had to leave the game early (remainder of the game injury) and Walker shock off a HBP for injury (OK result).

Game 3 of the series with 2 wins in the books for CN, Civale just looked bad as Wax knocked him around for 10 runs on just a strange scattering of mostly singles.  The only bright side for CN was a Trout pinch hit 2 run triple in the 9th to break up the shut out.  Harvey came in and got 2 Ks and handled the last batter himself to give Wax the 10-2 win.

The last game was a battle of the lefty starters -- Kershaw versus Braxton Garret, early it felt like a split was in the works as the lefty killers for CN just did nothing over the first 7 innings missing 3 home run splits.  Wax went up 3-0 as Superstar Catcher hit a 2 run homer and O'Neil hit his 1-14 split to get Wax the early lead.  CN's Will Smith and Brandon Donovan hit back to back homers to lead off the bottom of the 8th to bring the game to 3-2.  Adames led off the 9th hitting for FW and his split for a homer put Wax up 4-2.  But CN was feeling the home cooking and Trout faced Martin the feared Wax closer hitting a double with one out and Duran hit a pinch hit double to bring the game to 4-3. Seager advanced Duran to 3rd and Nootbar was announced as the pinch hitter.   He singled and the game was tied chasing the tired Martin.  In the second extra inning game of the series, CN's Phillips walked 2 and struck out 1 and got a pop out to face Benson with bases loaded in the clutch.  Randy looked through his bench and felt trepidation over the clutch factor but allowed him to hit and of course a clutch out ended the inning.  CN had the top of the order and Friedl (A bunter) bunted Donovan (the ghost runner) to 3rd.  The infield and outfield came in as Ohtani entered the batter's box.  Durham hit him and the fans charged the field.  Mayhem ensued and after a 30 minute delay, CN continued with Ohtani at first and an empty stadium.  Ohtani took 2nd on defensive indifference and Devers came to the plate with everyone in and hit a 2Bx to the gold glover (1) and it was too much for him as (# result) it slipped through for a long single and the game was over and CN went to their homes with 3 out of 4 in the books.

I think there was 4 injury rolls for Wax with 2 OK, 1 remainder of the game and one was 6 games reduced to 2 games injury.  Wax could have swept the series but came away losing it as the luck kept everything close in the 3 games that CN won.

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Draft Day Saturday, March 29.

Game 1: New Orleans takes an early lead, scoring 2 in the first off Burnes on a walk and two singles. BC took a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the first on a HBP, fielder’s choice, walk, double, and two singles. Ozzie Albies tripled on a triple 1 in the third to knock in another run off Sonny Gray. Sanchez homered in the top of the fourth to make it 4-3, but Witt Jr. hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth. Hamilton, Ginkel, and Cosgrove held the lead after Burnes couldn’t get anyone out in the sixth. Final score: BC 6, NO 4.

Game 2: In a nail-biter, Cole outdueled Wheeler, with the reigning AL Cy Young winner going 8 in a 2-1 victory, with Romero getting the save, despite allowing a ninth-inning homer to Kim.

Game 3: In a real Strato rarity, both pitchers had complete games, as Jesus (Luzardo) saved (the BC bullpen), pitching tired from the fifth inning on (allowing 11 walks, but striking out 13!). Alcantara pitched the ninth tired with a 6-run lead. Sanchez hit a 3-run homer in the first and Robert had a grand slam in the fourth to cement the 10-4 NO win.

Game 4: In another pitchers’ duel, Snell went 8 allowing 6 walks but only 3 hits for BC; Uribe picked up the save. Senga went 4+ with Milner allowing a pinch-hit single to Rojas to tie the game at 1 in the fifth. BC scored took the lead on a GDP (one of four in the game for the Rollers) in the sixth and held on for the 2-1 win.

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Future Wax bounced back from being swept by Koop Island, taking 3 of 4 on the road from Neverwinter.

The Candles outscored the Alpacas 4 to 1 in the first game. Losing pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez gave up 4 home runs in 6 innings. Peralta got the win, Harvey the save.

In the next game, FW tallied 4 runs in the 3rd inning and then held on from a 7-6 victory. Acuna rocketed 2 homeruns and had 4 RBI but his team still came up short. Gausman got the win, Duran the save. Merrill Kelly got the loss.

In game 3, Kyle Bradish dominated, striking out 11, and Freddie Freeman ripped 2 homeruns to give the Alpacas their only victory in the series, 4-2. Freeman had 3 of NW’s 5 total hits. Felix Bautista got the save, and Scherzer took the loss in his first start of the season.

In game 4, designated hitter Brandon Belt slammed 2 homeruns and Spencer Strider mowed down 12 to power the Candles to a 6-4 win in the final game. Strider surrendered only 5 hits and 1 walk in 7 2/3 innings and allowed 2 home runs.  Neverwinter had a chance to come back in the 9th but they came up short. Chris Martin got the save. Kutter Crawford took the loss, after serving up 4 gopher balls in 6 innings.

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Remember all teams get a day off after games 20, 28, and 40…Tom and Sam’s series was postponed until the 2^nd half…Send your stats to Tom.

Neverwinter hit four homers off Bay City starter Corbin Burnes: Acuna, Bregman, Yastrzemski, India, all solo shots.  Game started inauspiciously with Neverwinter missing a ball-park single chance, rolling a 20.

At Fenway Park the Neverwinter Alpacas easily handled the Bay City Rollers by the score of 9 to 5. The game was won by Neverwinter when they scored a run in the top of the 8th inning. After an out was recorded, Josh Bell doubled. Bo Bichette was the next batter, but he struck out. Chas McCormick then stroked a single. Cedric Mullins followed and he reached on an error scoring the run. Bay City was out-hit by Neverwinter, 13 hits to 9. The victory went to Dauri Moreta who went 1 inning, allowing no runs. Tom Cosgrove was the losing pitcher in relief. He pitched 2/3 of an inning and surrendered 1 hit and no walks.

Game 2:  Neverwinter over Bay City 4 - 1

Light hitting Jonathan India hit his second homerun in two games.  In a losing effort, Bobby Witt Jr. rapped two triples, but failed to score either time.  Strong game by Neverwinter ace Kyle Bradish, fanning nine over six innings.

At Fenway Park the Neverwinter Alpacas outscored the Bay City Rollers 4 to 1. Neverwinter promptly took the lead in their half of the first scoring a single run. Neverwinter rapped out 8 hits for the night. Kyle Bradish went 6 innings allowing no runs for the victory. Gerrit Cole was given the loss. He surrendered 8 hits and 5 walks in 7 and 2/3 innings.

Game 3:  Bay City over Neverwinter 6 - 5

In a seesaw game, Bay City holds off Neverwinter in game three.  Neither starter had their A game and didn't factor into the decision.  Bay City's bullpen was the difference keeping Neverwinter off the scoreboard,  Ginkel struck out three Alpacas over his two innings of strong relief work.

Corbin Carroll hit 2 doubles and had 2 RBI and Kevin Ginkel performed beautifully in relief as the Bay City Rollers beat the Neverwinter Alpacas by a score of 6 to 5. Neverwinter was unable to climb back into it after Bay City went ahead for good in the 7th inning when they came up with 2 runs on 3 hits. Ginkel pitched a perfect ninth and was credited with his 1st save. Tom Cosgrove picked up the victory, allowing no runs in 1 inning. Dauri Moreta was tagged with the loss in relief. He pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up 2 hits and 1 walk.

Game 4:  Neverwinter over Bay City 3 - 2 in 10 innings

In a battle of the lefties, a low scoring game at Fenway.  Neither starter factored in the decision.  Neverwinter jumped out to a 2 - 0 lead in the 4th as backup catcher Luis Campusano drove in two with a long single.  Bay City responded in the 6th, Ozzie Albies singled, moved over on a fielder's choice and driven in by Nick Castellanos before Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a solo bomb, tiring Alpaca starter Jordan Montgomery tying up the game.  Acuna gets the game winning RBI in the 10 while Alpaca closer Freddie Bautista earns the save.  A web gem via Johan Rojas and Johan Heim with a rare blocking the plate, Acuna trying to score from 2nd 1-18 chance.

Luis Campusano had 2 base hits and 2 RBI as the Neverwinter Alpacas defeated the Bay City Rollers in 10 innings by the score of 3 to 2 at Fenway Park. Both teams had scored 2 runs after nine full innings. Neverwinter won it in the 10th inning. Jonathan India laid down a sacrifice bunt. Ronald Acuna followed next and he laced a base-knock scoring the run. Bay City was out-hit by Neverwinter, 8 hits to 5. Emilio Pagan got credit for the victory, pitching 3 innings and allowing no runs. Pagan got help from Felix Bautista who earned the save. Jojo Romero ended up with the loss in relief. It was a tough loss for him as he did not allow an earned run in his 1 and 1/3 innings of work.

Game 1

Corbin Burnes returned to Oceanus but did not receive a hero’s welcome, as in what could be considered a drubbing in the Parking Lot, he lost 3-0. Asshole Logan Webb pitched a solid game. He allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks in 6 and 2/3 and chalked up 7 strikeouts. Neither team managed to score after the 3rd inning. Webb got help from Camilo Doval, who was credited with the save. Burnes pitched 6 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 walks.

Game 2

The Bay City Rollers nipped the Oceanus Assholes in 11 innings 2 to 1 in a hard-fought contest. The score was knotted at 1 after nine innings, with Gerrit Cole walking 5 and striking out 6 in 8 innings, while P. Lopez walked only 1 and struck out 10 in 7 innings for Oceanus. Bay City’s Ke’Bryan Hayes tripled in the go-ahead run. Both teams ended up with 3 hits on the afternoon. Kevin Ginkel was the winner, allowing no runs in 2 innings. Tom Cosgrove was credited with the save. Josh Hader took the loss in relief. He was a hard-luck loser, pitching 1 inning and not allowing an earned run. 

Game 3

In a thriller, the Bay City Rollers staged a dramatic comeback then held on to win over the Oceanus Assholes by a score of 6 to 3. In its only win not started by a Cy Young Award winner, Bay City came through with the game-winning runs in the top of the 9th inning, when they came up with 4 runs on 3 hits. The highlight belonged to pinch-hitter Johan Rojas, who deflated the crowd as he doubled, plating all three baserunners. Oceanus was retired without difficulty in the bottom of the 9th. The winning pitcher was Tom Cosgrove, who allowed no runs in 1 and 1/3 innings. The losing pitcher was Camilo Doval. 

Game 4

Blake Snell came through with a solid 8 innings at Rehoboth Parking Lot as Bay City beat Oceanus 2-1. Snell was stingy on the mound, allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks in 8 innings.  Oceanus could do no damage in the bottom of the 9^th against Abner Uribe in his SOMBILLA debut, who gained credit for his 1st save. Eury Perez was charged with the loss. He pitched 6 innings giving up 3 hits and 2 walks.

Bay City hit only 1 homer in the series (T. Hernandez) but did hit 3 triples and 5 doubles to hit a whopping .156 as a team (besting OC’s .136 team average, although the Assholes hit 3 homers—with Royce Lewis and JRod going back-to-back against Burnes in Game 1). Bay City’s ERA for the series was 1.70, with no BC relievers allowing an earned run. Rojas (1 for 3 with 3 RBIs) was the offensive star. Bobby “Wait till Next Year” Witt Jr. was 1 for 18 with 7 strikeouts.

 
An Olson double broke up the no-no.  Olson would homer in the 8^th off Williams for the only NO run. CN scored 3 runs as Ohtani hit a solo shot in the 3^rd and after 2 walks in the 5^th Devers hit a 2-run double (1-3 chance and then took 3^rd on a 1-4 chance that CN baited Harold into throwing in a bid to just get the 3^rd run in) and Seager hit a ballpark single to bring the score at the time to 4-0.
Bottom of the 8^th had Duran walking and then stealing 2 bases only to be thrown out at home (probably gassed) when Nootbar hit a ground ball B with the infield in.   Brasier came out for 9^th and was perfect for a save.

Unofficial TWITS Notes…..

This month is “Manatee Awareness Month”  -- https://bishopscience.org/manatee_awareness/#:~:text=November%20is%20designated%20by%20Florida,winter%20protected%20from%20the%20cold.

So go out and buy your season tickets now!

Future Wax and Freddy Peralta came out and shut down the Manatees for a 4-0 win.  Manatees missed 3 BPHR chances and 1 BPS chance.  Wax missed 1 BPHR chance and made 1 BPS chance.  Belt was the star of the game hitting a solo shot and singling and then scoring on the Kelenic 2 run triple.

Ohtani got his first start of the year pitching and got a 4-2 win  pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 hits (home run and double) for 1 run.  Ohtani hit a homer in the first and doubled and scored in the third on the Devers homer (he doubled in the first and had 3 rbis) to lead the CN over Wax.

Bobby Miller and Strider faced each other in game 3 and both allowed 5 runs over the first 5 innings.   But Strider blinked in the 6^th and gave up 2 more runs and CN added 1 more to win 8-5 as Neris pitched the last 2 and 1/3 for his first save of the season.

Kershaw came out to pitch the 4^th game and pull out the split and in the first he gave up a 2 run homer to the mutant with two last names Davis Schneider, but that is all Wax would give up in game 3 and they were able to get 1 run in 3 different innings getting 2 runs by hitting to the 4 in LF by a player who probably should not be out there (Rengifo) playing against the lefty.

After a tough week (funeral and family last weekend, Tuesday election day enough said, and then my mother in law’s memorial service was on Zoom Saturday which I avoided because Sam was here), CN gathered supplies and welcomed the Koopers and Wintery Knights.

We constructed NeverWinter Ballpark by turning up the AC and shortening the fences for the first series.  There was individual fresh guacamole (a big hit with Diana and less of one for others) and onion dip and a bunch of chip choices. And most importantly a Vegan Supreme pizza and Uno flatbread for the intermission.  The six pack of craft beer had too many flavored choices for Eric and it affected his play.

The first game pre-beer was perfect for the Koopers and they were able to win 3-1 just as they drew it up in the lab.

But Neverwinter was not to be denied after that and scored every time the Koopers scored and they won 3 straight games – 5-4, 15-14, and 5-4, all coming down to the wire but Bautista and Helsley recorded 3 saves between them.

Pizza was consumed and beer started….

The fact that CN is reporting this Twits Notes does tell you the outcome as CN was merciless visiting Koop Island (or else) Eric felt sorry for the sad Manatees.

Game 1:  Skubal the scary started for the Koopers and gave up 4 over 4 innings as Flores and Tatis capitalized on back to back Nick Senzel 2 base errors in the 2^nd.  The third had Will Smith hit a double and then Friedl (a lefty that Skubal scoffed at for being the leadoff hitter) hit a triple to score the second run and scored himself when Senzel allowed a hit just outside his range with two outs, allowing Tatis to bat and hit a triple to get CN an early 4 runs.  The Koopers went to their pen and came back with 3 runs including a pinch hit Lowe home run.  However, Jung answered with a 2 run homer and CN held on to win 6-3 as Ragans came in to save the game for his first save.

 
Game 2:  This game was the nail biter of the series.  Koopers went up 1-0 early on a Bellinger hit, but Ohtani hit a solo shot to tie it.  Koopers answered with 2 runs when Bobby Miller could not field his position in the bottom of the 4th, but the Manatees came back with 2 in the next half inning on a 2 run ballpark shot by Raleigh to tie it.  It stayed that way until the 10^th, when the Manatees afraid of what a long extra inning game would do to their ball pen, decided to just put some distance between the two teams. Seager led off with a double scoring the ghostly Harper and Jung followed with a single to go up 1 to have runners on 1^st and 3^rd with no outs.  The infield came in, and on a GB A to the 2B, the runner held and Jung trotted into second base.  Will Smit hit a long single and Brasier came out in the 10^th to get a K, out and clutch out to get his first save of the season and CN beat the Koop Islanders 6-3.

Game 3:  Valdez pitched a complete game but gave up 10 runs to lose 10-3 as Ohtani, Smith, Duran and Devers homered against the big lefty.

Game 4:  Verlander vs Rasmussen – The game started off with 3 straight scoreless innings and Soto ominously missed a Ballpark chance, but the Koopers scored first on a 2-run ball park shot by Lowe in the bottom of the 4th.  But the pesky Manatees came back in the top of the 5^th with 3 doubles to tie the game.  They then added one on a left field x chance to Soto and then added another one on an Arraez error and almost broke it open when Raleigh missed a ball park 3-run shot.  Then in the 9^th up 4 to 2 the Manatees added one more on a Duran triple followed by a SSx to Wander (1 at SS) who thought he had a great play as Nootbar hit it sharply (1) and then realized that with the infield in it was a long single. Brasier notched his second save, CN winning 5-2.

Bottom line CN likes KIB's ballpark dimensions more than the Koopers did.