Fallout: New Vegas' Mojave Baseball League [Retired]

[StLee 19]

Year 5: Season Awards

 

New Vegas Samurai Hitter Award

 

 

MBL Announces #1 Batter Award: The Mojave Baseball League has selected its New Vegas Samurai Hitter Award for 2289 and the honor went to Jimmy LaRue, Goodsprings's fine center fielder.

 

He starred this season with a .427 batting average, 177 hits, 6 home runs, 61 RBIs, .462 OBP and 77 runs scored.

 

Lead Dealer Pitcher Award

 

 

2289 MBL Lead Dealer Pitcher Award Chosen: The Lead Dealer Pitcher Award for 2289 has been presented and the Mojave Baseball League winner is Jeff MacTause of Freeside.

 

"It's always nice to receive an award like this," said MacTause. "I just hope I can improve on my performance next year and be in the running again," the Kings star told reporters.

 

MacTause excelled with an impressive 8-5 record in 22 starts. In 157.1 innings he yielded 113 hits and 18 walks, while striking out 151 and compiling a fine 1.72 ERA.

 

New Kid Award

 

 

Emmons Is MBL's Best Rookie: The 2289 Mojave Baseball League New Kid Award has gone to Ernest Emmons of the North Vegas Radscorpions.

 

In his debut season he hit .286, drove in 34 runs and scored 44 times, while playing in 89 games. The 22-year-old newcomer also had 14 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs.

 

Mojave Hardcore Mode Postseason Award

 

 

Postseason Award Goes to Dominant Pitcher: North Vegas' Rich Richmond made his return to the postseason one to remember. 

 

The 22-year-old starter blasted his way to helping the Radscorpions win all games he started on their way to the 2289 championship. 

 

In 4 games started, Richmond had a 2-0 record with a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched. He allowed 27 hits, just 6 earned runs, and 6 walks, and he struck out 24 batters. 

 

At the plate, he batted 3 for 9 (.333 batting average) with a run scored and 2 RBI. 

 

Return to Sender Defense Awards

 

MBL Honors Top Glovemen for 2289: On the defensive side of the game pitchers always get the glory, but the best pitchers know their success hinges on the gloves behind them. The defensive dream team in the Mojave Baseball League for 2289 has been announced, and the Return to Sender Defense Award trophies will be presented to these outstanding fielders:

 

Pitcher: Brad Moore (Nellis AFB Boomers)

Catcher: Bob Seymour (Novac Dinosaurs)

First Baseman: Pat Meyer (South Vegas Vault Boys)

Second Baseman: Daniel Bentley (Tops Mutants)

Third Baseman: Mike Britton (Nellis AFB Boomers)

Shortstop: Bill Cole (North Vegas Radscorpions)

Left Fielder: Jim Seaman (Freeside Kings)

Center Fielder: Gerardo Makejoo (Boulder City Atomic Wranglers)

Right Fielder: Nelson Kirby (North Vegas Radscorpions)

[StLee 19]

Year 5: Offseason - September - December News and Notes

 

9.5.89 – Player trade

 

The Primm Outlaws traded 25-year-old closer Brad Wedderhede to the South Vegas Vault Boys, getting 18-year-old minor league shortstop Gustavo Chávez in return.

 

9.17.89 – Player trade

 

The Freeside Kings traded 25-year-old second baseman Joel Bowles to the Boulder City Atomic Wranglers, getting 35-year-old right fielder Thomas Cantrell and 18-year-old minor league catcher Sylvester Lambright in return.

 

10.1.89 – Player suspension

 

In response to being traded from Boulder City to Freeside, right fielder Thomas “Was Here” Cantrell had a problem. Unfortunately for him, that problem has resulted in team sanctions against him. 

 

Cantrell publicly criticized moving from Boulder City to Freeside. 

 

“I don’t want to be in the city around all them boozers, gamblers, and addicts,” he said on Mojave radio. “New Vegas smells like molerat guts.” 

 

The Kings responded by suspending Cantrell for the first 10 games of the 2290 season. 

 

In five seasons with the Atomic Wranglers, the 35-year-old Cantrell had a .282 batting average with 29 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs, 105 RBI, and 72 runs scored. In 2289, he was a part-time player, appearing mostly as a defensive replacement. 

 

10.5.89 – MBL Draft

 

Here are the results of the 2289 MBL Draft: 

 

Round 1

Round 1, Pick 1 - Nellis AFB Boomers: SP Randy Smith

 

Round 1, Pick 2 - Novac Dinosaurs: SP Corey Balding

 

Round 1, Pick 3 - Primm Outlaws: 3B Matt Davis

 

Round 1, Pick 4 - Gomorrah Devils: SP Hubert Pugh

 

Round 1, Pick 5 - Tops Mutants: SP Matt King

 

Round 1, Pick 6 - Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: SP Rob Thomas

 

Round 1, Pick 7 - Westside Sarsaparillas: MR Shane Brownskin

 

Round 1, Pick 8 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: SP Artie Langley

 

Round 1, Pick 9 - Freeside Kings: SP Will Bishop

 

Round 1, Pick 10 - South Vegas Vault Boys: SP Dean Rodríguez

 

Round 1, Pick 11 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SP Bennett James

 

Round 1, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SP Frantz Pedarzolli

 

Round 2

Round 2, Pick 1 - Nellis AFB Boomers: CF Bill Beamray

 

Round 2, Pick 2 - Novac Dinosaurs: SP Earnest Campbell

 

Round 2, Pick 3 - Primm Outlaws: SP John Walker

 

Round 2, Pick 4 - Gomorrah Devils: SP Clifford Gray

 

Round 2, Pick 5 - Tops Mutants: SS Mike Wise

 

Round 2, Pick 6 - Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: SP Jeff Greene

 

Round 2, Pick 7 - Westside Sarsaparillas: SP Seth Cyberdog

 

Round 2, Pick 8 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: SS Marc Pope

 

Round 2, Pick 9 - Freeside Kings: SP Tom McGuire

 

Round 2, Pick 10 - South Vegas Vault Boys: SS John Phelps

 

Round 2, Pick 11 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SP Howard Bully

 

Round 2, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SP Clyde Brooks

 

Round 3

Round 3, Pick 1 - Nellis AFB Boomers: CF Clark Keller

 

Round 3, Pick 2 - Novac Dinosaurs: MR Artie Latham

 

Round 3, Pick 3 - Primm Outlaws: SP Another Tom Jones

 

Round 3, Pick 4 - Gomorrah Devils: SP Anthony Erwin

 

Round 3, Pick 5 - Tops Mutants: CF Jordan Walters

 

Round 3, Pick 6 - Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: C Rich Knight

 

Round 3, Pick 7 - Westside Sarsaparillas: 2B Bubba Krohn

 

Round 3, Pick 8 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: C José Flores

 

Round 3, Pick 9 - Freeside Kings: SS Danny Joutsela

 

Round 3, Pick 10 - South Vegas Vault Boys: SP Taylor Turner

 

Round 3, Pick 11 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SP Austin Mayes

 

Round 3, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SP Lowell Sanford

 

Round 4

Round 4, Pick 1 - Nellis AFB Boomers: SS Sam Quarterhorse

 

Round 4, Pick 2 - Novac Dinosaurs: CF Dirk Riehl

 

Round 4, Pick 3 - Primm Outlaws: SP Thomas Wilson

 

Round 4, Pick 4 - Gomorrah Devils: 3B Michael Taylor

 

Round 4, Pick 5 - Tops Mutants: SS Peter Harris

 

Round 4, Pick 6 - Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: SP Ron Austin

 

Round 4, Pick 7 - Westside Sarsaparillas: 2B Sean Hanson

 

Round 4, Pick 8 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: SP Expanding Johnson

 

Round 4, Pick 9 - Freeside Kings: SP John Caravan

 

Round 4, Pick 10 - South Vegas Vault Boys: SS Robby Woodward

 

Round 4, Pick 11 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: CF Tommy Moore

 

Round 4, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: C Bobby Davenport

 

Round 5

Round 5, Pick 1 - Nellis AFB Boomers: SP Curtis Bank Robber

 

Round 5, Pick 2 - Novac Dinosaurs: CF Claudio García

 

Round 5, Pick 3 - Primm Outlaws: SS Lightning Jackson

 

Round 5, Pick 4 - Gomorrah Devils: SP Tyson Rogers

 

Round 5, Pick 5 - Tops Mutants: C Luis Santos

 

Round 5, Pick 6 - Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: 2B Marcos Rodríguez

 

Round 5, Pick 7 - Westside Sarsaparillas: SP Eugene Peoples

 

Round 5, Pick 8 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: SS Juan Murillo

 

Round 5, Pick 9 - Freeside Kings: SS Greg Lyons

 

Round 5, Pick 10 - South Vegas Vault Boys: CF Tim Brooks

 

Round 5, Pick 11 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SP Jon Motherporter

 

Round 5, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SP Edgar Lambright

 

10.27.89 – Player injury

 

Westside received a major blow, literally, when they heard news of an accident involving starting third baseman Will Robertson. 

 

Robertson, one of the active members of the New California Republic military, was injured in a training accident while on active duty with the NCR Rangers. Though he is expected to survive, Robertson has reportedly completely lost his left arm, which will force him to retire. 

 

However, a spokesman for the NCR said that Robertson would undergo experimental limb regrowth procedures to see if he can be a contributing member of both the NCR and MBL in the future. 

 

“There have been experiments done throughout the wastelands,” the spokesman said. “There have been a few cases where the patient has been able to regenerate limbs, so we are going to proceed with those procedures, hoping for the best.” 

 

In response to how the NCR had access to procedures, the spokesman said, “There is literature out there for this sort of thing. We have our hands on a book called The Wasteland Survival Guide, which specifically details limb regeneration, so we feel we have information to help Ranger Robertson have a healthy future.” 

 

11.17.89 – Player trade

 

The Boulder City Atomic Wranglers traded 25-year-old starting pitcher Brandon Kerr to the Westside Sarsaparillas, getting 18-year-old minor league reliever Jerry Rodríguez in return.

 

11.17.89 – Player fight

 

Eddie Pegasus of Boulder City and Emilio Rodriguez of Westside were in an altercation Saturday night in a Cottonwood Cove bar that has caused both players to receive discipline from the league office. 

 

Both players will receive a five-game suspension to start the 2290 season. 

 

11.27.89 – Player trade

 

The Nellis AFB Boomers traded 25-year-old catcher Joe Cash to the Primm Outlaws, getting 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Dave McCoy in return.

 

12.5.89 – Player signing

 

Hammerhand Porter contacted league officials just a few days ago, saying that he could play baseball at a high level. After an initial workout for a scout, Porter was allowed to try out for a position in the Mojave Baseball League. 

 

Most players who enter the league as free agents are not considered to be at a high skill level compared to some of the people who had been in Mojave baseball camps over the years. However, Porter showed that he could be a star in the league. 

 

Due to his high skill levels, Commissioner Lee determined that there would be a lottery for the rights to Porter with one caveat: only teams that missed the playoffs could gain rights to Porter. 

 

And with that, the lucky team of eight was the Novac Dinosaurs, who get the rights to Porter. According to a team official, Porter would be best suited as a shortstop, probably hitting in the middle of the lineup. 

 

12.5.89 – Player trade

 

The Primm Outlaws traded 25-year-old catcher Evan Pryor to the Ultra Luxe White Gloves, getting 36-year-old left fielder John Weber in return.

 

12.22.89 – Player fight

 

Tops closer Jim Ford has been having a miserable 2289. Ever since the New California Republic closed its baseball team’s doors, Ford, the “master of the postseason,” has been unhappy. 

 

That unhappiness reared its ugly head in a fundraiser where Ford, who was visibly drunk, insulted a businessman’s wife and then punched the businessman. 

 

Ford was escorted from the facilities and is expected to be disciplined by the league. He will probably be suspended from anywhere between 5-20 games, according to league sources. 

 

12.28.89 – MBL Rule Change

 

The Mojave Baseball League playoffs are in flux yet again. This time the first round will be reduced to five games maximum per series. The Mojave Series will stay at seven games maximum.

 

12.31.89 - More stories are coming

 

This is not a 6-year story for nothing. The offseason (and as we'll see--the postseason) were again tumultuous. Stay tuned...

[StLee 19]

Year 5: The Would-Be Assassin

 

8.20.89

 

The fourth game of the 2289 Mojave Series was generating buzz. It was a tight game with the Goodsprings—and Lee’s favorite—team and North Vegas team battling it out. The Goodsprings team was trailing by a game in the series, so the result of the game was important.  

 

At each of the baseball stadiums around the Mojave, there is what Lee calls the “Bullet Box.” This area of the stadium has several security protections to ensure that the person sitting there cannot be murdered during the baseball game. Over the first few years, it was not needed, but Lee originally agreed to the box in case important delegates of the New California Republic or other places were present.  

 

Fortunately for Lee, the box was there during the fourth game of the Mojave Series. Well, at least, that is what I thought. Based on what happened, I would think he would be shaken, but like many times during our time together, he has said or done things that have made me think he is different in a very strange way.  

 

While we were sitting in the Bullet Box along with other important people, including Cass and Raul Tejada, some loud thumps started blasting against the box. Finally a hole sprung in the metal and a bullet came through, grazing Lee on the right arm. Only seconds before the hail of bullets, Lee had been in a position where the bullet would have gone straight through his head. He was watching his Pip-Boy at the time instead of the baseball game. For Lee, he almost always kept his focus on the action on the field, so I noticed when he started looking down, almost like he were tracking an enemy. Always, when something was about to happen, Lee seemed to sense it, like he had some sort of perception that told him what was about to happen to him.  

 

After the hail of bullets had ended, Lee checked his arm and saw that he was not in need of any medical attention or chems, so he walked out without saying a word. I started to follow him, but he held up his hand to send me our danger signal. Because of his signal, I stopped and waited. We did not see Lee again that day.  

 

 

 

 

After Lee left the Mojave for good and thus left me his Mojave journal, I made it a point to look up this date. I will put it here because of its significance. 

 

Lee’s journal – 8.22.89

 

The first time I heard the report of the “smirking woman,” I had a good idea who it could be. To say her shift into the person whom I thought she was to the she-beast she became was unpredictable would be an understatement of utter significance.  

 

I now know I am writing this journal, not as a personal notekeeping exercise, but as a word out to all of the people living on this earth both now and in the future. To those reading, may you take heed that the single greatest disaster to befall mankind was the fallout. She was not around when the fallout happened, but she is a victim of it nonetheless.  

 

When I came to the Mojave, I was at first a courier. That is my lie because I was most certainly not a courier. Maybe I was carrying an important piece of the history and future of this region on me, that platinum chip, but I was not a courier. However, as good as I have been at what I do, I did not see Benny and his gang coming, and I did nothing at that moment to prevent it once I did discover what was happening. Perhaps it was ego or that I just didn’t feel like fighting anymore, but I thought for sure it was the end. The mind can only take so much mental anguish, but the brain can take much less physical damage before life leaves us forever. At least, that is supposed to be the way it works. I was shot all right.  

 

Then I woke up in Goodsprings and through sentimentality made it my home. After I was fixed up by the good doctor, I met a girl there for whom I found a new lust I thought I had pushed away. Before being pulled from a shallow grave in the Mojave, I had sworn off pursuing love as nothing more than a useless exercise in time and frustration. Then, seeing her, the way she walked, the way she handled a gun, the way she smirked, all of those things renewed in me that dappling bachelor persona I had tried to shrug off years before.  

 

At first, she considered me to be an anomaly, some sort of mental patient. She showed me how to shoot, but, of course, I had fired guns many times before. In time, I found myself making gecko hunting trips, and then we were eating dinner together. And then we were sleeping in the same bed. That's how it always starts, I suppose. But that doesn't always lead to how it ends.  

It had to end for a time, though. I had to find Benny and his gang to find out what the hell happened. Nobody sneaks up on me. Nobody. It wasn't just revenge that I was looking at, but outright answers. Benny seemed to me to be something special. I thought so at the time because he was such an enigma in the little rules of thumb I created.  

 

My need to find Benny became part of her undoing. She offered to follow me, but I told her she was needed in Goodsprings. My departure seemed to create a madness in her, and I was not ready to offer her eternity. She could not offer that to me, either, though she tried. I had to go, and that was that. 

 

Until it wasn't. Until my return trips to Goodsprings started to make many of the locals feel quite uncomfortable. Trudy asked me to stay out of her saloon to avoid any dramatic incidents. Even Chet looked quite anxious when I strolled into his store. As time went on, Goodsprings remained in my heart, but I only returned there for baseball business.  

 

In between my decision to stay away from Goodsprings, strange things started happening around me. It seemed that every new lover I took on started to have mishaps. They were small things at first, like finding dead rodents in their beds or finding their wardrobes in ruins. But then there started to be a few more dangerous incidents around them, like frag mines being set outside their homes. For awhile it did not occur to me that the "smirking woman" was stalking me and lashing out with jealousy. But I could feel it suddenly, and I thought it would be a good idea to confront her. Except, I never saw her again.  

 

As the years went by, and as I became a champion to the Mojave, the incidents ceased. I thought she had finally moved on and was not going to be a problem. It wasn't until I heard reports of how Swank was killed that I knew her disappearing act was not at all because she forgot about me. It was because she was planning something big.  

 

What I don't understand was how she was able to get Swank and Kimball, yet she never touched the people closest to me, like Cass or Boone. Or maybe she just never had a chance. As far as I know, I was meant to be the third of her victims. When she shot me at the baseball field, I knew it was time to have a final confrontation.  

 

Like I mentioned above, I expect that others will read this. Hell, after I am finished in the Mojave with my mission, I may leave this journal for someone else to read. The Historian would **** if this journal were available. Most questions answered. I'm still hanging on to a few secrets, though. It's better that way. Anyway, my embellishments are more interesting than anything that really happened. I think so.  

 

Since others will read this, I leave my smirking girl as a mystery. I've told no one outside of Goodsprings about her, mostly because of my own shame. The people of Goodsprings know her, though, and once the investigators draw her in their sights, she will be dead. Crazy no more.  

 

I did confront her, and we are both alive today. Most people who have ever taken a shot at me are now long dead. She is the first person I let walk away. I don't think she's going to be a threat to the baseball league anymore, but who knows how predictable crazy is. However, I do believe she finally understands why she and I could never be and can never be. We had a very long heart-to-heart. If she decides to stick around, she has a very short time to live before NCR troopers or NCR designated Securitrons come after her. That is, after I make this available after I'm gone. I won't turn her in. That's my crime. Hopefully she listened to my advice and headed out of this place, somewhere where she can start anew. 

 

After seeing her, I now know that I need to apologize to each and every woman I jilted in some way. Not that they all will do what she did, but none of them deserved to be treated the way I treated them. I caved in to base needs, not caring how it affected others. For that I am sorry, and I will try to make amends. In the future, the next place where I will be a stranger yet again, I will fight desperately to keep my beast leashed.  

 

So, yes, I did find my potential assassin. And yes, she is still alive and out there. But I fear her no more.  

[StLee 19]

Year 5: Restless Boone

 

Lee's empire was a short-lived one in the Mojave. From the time he made his political dealings with the NCR, things had already set themselves in motion. Lee transferred complete control of the Lucky 38 Casino to Cass, though it seemed for a while that he would remain there as the operating owner. He had most certainly spent a lot of time there in his suite in the past. 

 

However, as the community overseer, Lee also spent a lot of time in the different sections of the Mojave. In time, he started to spend less time in New Vegas and more time in different areas, with frequent visits to Novac and Cottonwood Cove. For his trips to Novac, I could tag along without question, yet Cottonwood Cove was always off limits to me, at least in the offseason. 

 

I suspected Lee had taken on a lover or something to that effect, but never really pushed it. He did not want to talk about it, and I was discovering that he was talking to me less and less, making my job a little harder. 

 

On one particular incident, after Lee had a series of bad meetings, both baseball and Mojave-related, he lashed out at me, and I feared our time together might be done. For the first time since meeting me, he made the meeting personal. I don't want to be the focus here, and at this point of the story I want to remain as much as an outsider to it as I can, but he started to grill me on my past and purpose. I realized after the fact that he suspected I was an agent for the NCR sent to spy on him. The reason behind that suspicion was that some information only he and a handful of his closest friends knew had gotten back to him through an ambassador of the NCR. 

 

I was cleared, though, when Lee found out it was Boone who had revealed a few trade secrets in an unfortunate incident with NCR tax collectors. The NCR had been slowly but surely converting the entire denominations of the cap currency to NCR bucks. Boone was considered to be a major stakeholder because of RobCo's operations and conglomerate branches, as well as his shares of the Novac Dinosaurs baseball team. Therefore, he needed to be audited. 

 

Supposedly Boone was drinking during the meeting, got drunk, and blurted out some things only Lee and a few others, including me, would know. The NCR approached Lee after that meeting demanding answers, and that is why Lee thought he had a snitch in his midst. Fortunately for me, Lee is not a shoot first and ask questions later type. 

 

As for what Boone told about, well, it had something to do with the intricate underground network Mr. House had previously owned. Lee had stated the area was mostly irradiated, which was true, but the NCR was not fully aware of the fact that the tunnels spanned the entirety of the Mojave with various exit spots throughout. The NCR cited security and property ownership reasons for making Lee's life more of a living hell. It also re-upped President Kimball's suspicions of Lee as Marty Kimball's murderer. 

 

For all of the trouble caused, Lee had to meet with Boone, so off to Novac he and I went. When we met with Boone, Boone had the look of a cyberdog after it ripped up your only mattress. I could tell he was embarrassed about the situation, but he didn't directly apologize. 

 

"I'm restless, Lee," he started. "I am a trained killer. There ain't much need for killing around here these days." 

 

"Restless or not, you ****ed me, Boonie." 

 

"I didn't mean to. The--I was drunk and I--it wasn't what I meant to say." 

 

Lee looked at him. He had that same frown on in every meeting these days. Life no longer seemed good. "What did they offer you?" 

 

"What?"

 

"They came here about taxes, sure, but then they offered you something that you want. So what did they offer you?" 

 

Boone dipped his head. It was the first time I ever saw Boone show shame. "They said they're running into remnants of tribals and the Legion northeast of here in some places called Montana and the Dakotas. They said they need somebody who could lead people through the forests there. Something about yao guai, some biological creature the Chinese conjured up to rip our guts out." 

 

"So you sold me out to kill some bears?" 

 

"What? Bears?"

 

"Never mind that. You sold me out?" 

 

"No, I didn't sell you out. Not at all, man." 

 

I could feel Lee's hand shift towards his body. Lee always kept a silenced .22 on him. My body froze. 

 

Boone continued. "It wasn't like that at all. It's hard to explain, but the topic about the tunnels came up because they brought it up like they knew all about it. That guy, Kidd, I think he said, mentioned how the president was taxing people for their property above and below ground. That's when they mentioned how your tunnels were illegal because they span across state lines from California to Arizona and north to Colorado. I just mentioned that the tunnels only went from New Vegas to the river. That's when I realized I messed up."

 

Lee brought his hand back up to the table and grabbed his glass of water. "Well, the tax man cometh. One more thing for me to worry about these days." 

 

"Sorry." Boone hung his head again. 

 

"Did you take it?" 

 

"What?" 

 

"The yao guai hunting venture. Did you take it?" 

 

"I told them I had to think about it some more."

 

"What about RobCo and the baseball team?"

 

Boone pulled out a folder with notes. "I think it might be smart to split up the company if I decide to leave. I have a few people I think could do well if they became full owners of branches."

 

"Like who?" 

 

"Well, one you know is Poseidon Last Name."

 

Lee winked at me. I don't know why, but I blushed. "Going to head the RobCo Network Center, I suppose?" 

 

"Exactly. He said he would have to consider giving up baseball if he does take over, but I thought he might be able to work something out. He's too good of a player to just give up the game, especially if he still enjoys it. But I know his fingers are magic when they put their hands on a computer." 

 

"And what about the baseball team? What's your plan to offload it?" 

 

"I know you want all of the owners to be approved by you, so I thought a good handover would be to Cliff Briscoe." 

 

"You think he wants to leave his dinosaur theme park long enough to care about baseball?" 

 

Boone smiled. "That's the thing. He's been begging me to incorporate the baseball team with his theme park in a more significant way. He said using a dinosaur as my mascot is not good enough. He thinks that the two could feed off each other. So he could be perfect to uplift the baseball team. We most certainly can't win games, so why not improve the lives of our fans?" 

 

"Well, Boonie. You seem like you've been thinking this through a lot. I want you to take some time. Give me a month. That's all I'm asking. Just one month to reconsider. I could use allies right now because I feel a ****storm approaching. My gut is usually right, but if something does go down, then having you with me gives me a lot more confidence." 

 

"All right, Lee. I'll think about it more. But I want to let you know that I'm leaning towards hunting yao guai. My trigger finger is itching." 

 

"So is mine, Boonie. So is mine." 

 

We left Boone, and Lee brought me to the train station to send me back to New Vegas.

 

"I have some business to take care of out east," Lee said. "I'm sorry, but you still can't come, if that's what you're wondering." 

 

"Actually I'm wondering something else," I said. Lee's eyebrows raised. "Were you going to shoot him if he ratted you out?" 

 

"Maybe." 

 

Lee left me at the train station, and I felt again like Lee was impossible to be understood.

[StLee 19]

Year 5: Winter Meetings

 

 

Lee reestablished Winter Meetings to be a one-day event. There were no significant changes to the league other than the big announcement that Cliff Briscoe, owner of Dinkyland in Novac, would be taking over ownership of the Novac Dinosaurs for the departing Craig Boone. 

 

Briscoe announced in the meeting that he and Boone had been working on changing ownership, and that the direction of the franchise had already changed to one looking to promote a winning franchise connected to Dinkyland. Dinky, by the way, is the T-Rex mascot for both the theme park and baseball team. 

 

In other news, there were a number of trades, including a few key players (marked with an asterisk) during the one-day meeting. 

 

Trades

 

Ultra Luxe traded CF Ken Turner* to Nellis AFB for RF Troy Caldwell and SP David Martinez. 

 

Novac traded 3B Aaron Myers to North Vegas for RF Elvis Johnson, 1B Eric Krause, and SP Tanning Hide Manley. 

 

Nellis AFB traded RF Keith Richardson to Boulder City for MR Alonso Garcia, SP Jerry Rodriguez, and 3B Neil Ong. 

 

South Vegas traded 3rd round pick, SP Taylor Turner, to North Vegas for their 3rd round pick, SP Lowell Sanford, and 5th round pick, SP Edgar Lambright. 

 

Freeside traded RF Ed Wolf to Novac for MR Travis House. 

 

Tops traded 5th round pick, C Luis Santos, to Nellis AFB for RF Stan Clark. 

 

Goodsprings traded RF Mike Duncan* to Nellis AFB for LF Cipriano Man, RF Clark Keller, SP Manuel Salazar, and 2B Ray Morris.

 

South Vegas traded 2B Gregory McQueen to Tops for 3B G10 Khan.

 

North Vegas traded SP Wilfred Buckley* to Gomorrah for SP Mark Walters, MR Bobby Lorn, and RF Dave Green. 

 

Primm traded SP Clarence Willis* to Freeside for SP Keith Heard, C Sylvester Lampbright, and RF Gunner Knife.

[StLee 19]

The Historian: Segue 5

 

What was the Mojave without pain, suffering, and a whole lot of trouble? Despite all of Lee’s efforts to make the Mojave a better place, there was still political turmoil and struggles. 

 

In 2290, the Mutants of the area were coming under pressure to get the hell out of Jacobstown, the one sanctuary they knew of in the Western Wastelands. People moving into the Mojave were spooked by Mutants and more so by Nightkin, and that led to Jacobstown being an area that just could not properly populate according to the NCR’s expansion standards. 

 

It was not just roving citizens who feared the Mutants, but also the implants serving in the NCR military. After a few violent incidents, Lee was having a hard time convincing the NCR to leave Jacobstown alone. Therefore, Lee was suffering through more troubles. 

 

Tommy Torini, owner of the Tops team, started to pressure Lee to move his franchise. Finally, after a February meeting with the tribal councils of Jacobstown, the Mutants there agreed that having a baseball team was not in their best interest. Lee had to compromise a plan, so there were some quick changes. First, Lee agreed with Torini to allow Tops to take its minor league facility in the Aerotech Office Park, a convenient location for a franchise in the New Vegas area. Tops also considered a name change, but that change would have to take place at a later date for uniform and marketing purposes. Torini proposed that an in-season change could be helpful, but he would explore some ideas. Also, the Prospects League team, the Aerotech Tops, would have to share the field for the 2290 season with any conflicting games happening as a doubleheader where the PL team would play a late-morning or noon game and the MBL team would have a 4 PM or later first pitch. 

 

The NCR was also auditing just about every business in the Mojave for the purpose of completely overhauling the economic system. After an original announcement that the NCR would not buy up caps for NCR bucks, people in the Mojave started to protest. The NCR compromised by agreeing to buy up caps at a 1/30 value. 

 

Lee intervened in helping out some businesses. Not only had he been cashing out his caps for a long time, but he was able to convince Cass and a few other of his closest associates to give themselves salary freezes. During that time, Lee took all of the money accrued from those business owners and a few cooperating managers, foremen, and even military personnel to pay out all other companies’ employee salaries. Therefore, for instance, the entire New Vegas Steel factory line was able to be paid their full salary instead of what would have been a one day’s salary for a month of work. That kept things chugging along. 

 

Because of the unintended consequences of the NCR’s economic decisions, people started to question whether or not it was in their best interest for the NCR to have taken over the area. Lee had been an instrumental part of the decision to trust the NCR, but if it was willing to starve its citizens, for instance, what was better than what other dictators and gang leaders to the area were doing? President Kimball was also reportedly not happy with Lee’s ability to “find money under piles of ****.” 

 

The years ending in zero were also big election years, and even Kimball had to run. Of course, the Mojave did not know of any of the candidates or even have a system in place for voting in the NCR. That was not worked out yet. To them, Kimball was no different than a radscorpion for who was running for president. There were rumors of a candidate familiar with the Mojave area running, but it was not Lee, so most people from the Mojave did not care much. Lee reiterated that he would never be any any other political position other than commissioner of the Mojave Baseball League. 

 

In the Mojave itself, there were now going to be district elections, including mayor of New Vegas and representatives chosen for the three Mojave districts: the Greater Vegas area, the Southern Desert area, and the Mead area, covering the area around Lake Mead and the Colorado River. People did not buy into being part of the New California Republic just yet, but they were interested in the events of the Mojave, so people were involved. The only person prominent in this story who was looking to transfer into politics was James Hsu, who was still in the commissioner’s office for helping the MBL. 

 

In other positive news, the Khans had made a transformation towards their own chems plant. Whereas they were once major providers of addictive chems in the area, years of reform led them to use their talents in producing valuable chems in the Mojave. Now, the Khans provided medical facilities in multiple communities with beneficial chems to help health and life spans. Also, they were able to contract out west to provide California communities that had been suffering from outbreaks of various diseases and lack of supplies. 

 

Finally, Jack of Nellis AFB also made an announcement in 2290 that he had made a breakthrough in vehicle dynamics and that he would expand his motorcycle operations into two divisions of motorcycles and cars. He decided to change his company name to Jack B. Good Automotives, adopting the Good name as his family name. He also announced that a small number of automobiles would be available no later than 2292, but there still needed to be more infrastructure improvements by the time he went into mass production. Roads were still hard to find, and the vehicles had a hard time traveling through sand. 

 

Yes, the Mojave involved a lot of pain and suffering, but hope always seemed to be on the horizon.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: Offseason - January through April

 

January through April player fights

 

There were a number of incidents, including two players getting involved in a drunken scuffle at a New Year's Eve party. Here is a list of all players who will face early-season suspensions for fighting: 

 

Joe Chase, Nellis AFB, 4-game suspension

Ron Darragh, Novac, 1 game

Grant Coalcave, Boulder City, 6 games

Bill Shelton, Boulder City, 2 games

Bill Fish Lake, Westside, 2 games

Seth Cyberdog, Westlake, 4 games

Chris Andrews, Primm, 5 games

Greg Patterson, Nellis AFB, 2 games

Ron Heath, Ultra Luxe, 3 games

Hector Herrera, Goodsprings, 2 games

Matt England, Freeside, 5 games, team suspension

Greg Lyons, Freeside, 1 game, team suspension

John Rock, South Vegas, 3 games

Raul Castro, South Vegas, 2 games

DJ Gas Mask Cartwright, Gomorrah, 2 games

 

Other News and Transactions

 

1.8.90 - Player injury

 

Primm's Bob Woodward had an unpleasant surprise when he ran into an angry fireant. Things got a little too hot under the collar for Woodward, and now the Outlaws' right fielder could miss up to half the season while receiving burn treatments. 

 

1.10.90 - Stadium news

 

Gomorrah finalized expansion to its stadium, currently the smallest in the Mojave Baseball League, by adding 837 seats to the outfield. Red Rock's stadium now has a capacity of 6837. More expansion is expected in the future. 

 

3.10.90 – Player trade 

 

The Goodsprings Lucky 38s traded 25-year-old shortstop Matt England and 19-year-old minor league catcher Brian Sanddunes to the Freeside Kings, getting 35-year-old starting pitcher Marshall Shaw in return.

 

3.3.90 - Player injury

 

Freeside's Marcos Hernandez was out with teammates joyriding their brand-new motorcycles when an accident occurred, leaving Hernandez mauled. One of his teammates, reportedly Mark Henson, ran awry and struck Hernandez. Now Hernandez will have to wait for an unspecified amount of time before he gets a chance to rev his engine for the season. In the meantime, he and his free-riding teammates are in the manager's ****house. 

 

3.11.90 - Player leave

 

Tom Kaufman of the Ultra Luxe organization has not been happy with his performance on the baseball field. Now the Prospects League shortstop is going to take his lack of talents elsewhere, announcing to the team that he would like to take a spiritual journey to find himself. 

 

The White Gloves have not released him outright, but placed Kaufman on a special reserve list in case he changes his mind. There are reports that even Commissioner Lee has been impressed by Kaufman's talent, but that talent has never translated to on-field performances. Kaufman has been given very few opportunities in his four-year career, and he may have been out of baseball regardless of his decision. 

 

4.4.90 – Player injury

 

Gomorrah officials have confirmed that reliever Lance Welch will be out of action for two weeks, but did not specify the injury or how it occurred. Sources close to the player say that Welch suffered an intercostal strain when his son jumped on him from a couch while he was lying on the floor.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: Preseason Predictions

 

North Vegas was the class of the Mojave last season, and this season the Radscorpions are the hands-on favorite to repeat as champions. North Vegas won 74 games last season, and, though they are not favored to win as many games in 2290, they are the only team predicted to win 60 or more games. 

 

The rest of the predictions are up in the air with this season expected to have the tightest races in the history of the MBL. Ultra Luxe is predicted to finish with the second best record at 55-45. However, other teams also have their shot at 55 or more wins, including, South Vegas, Goodsprings, Gomorrah, Tops, Freeside, and Novac. Really, Nellis AFB and Primm are the only two teams not expected to compete for a division title this season. 

 

If predictions are accurate, the Bear Division will be the most interesting since Goodsprings, Gomorrah, and Tops are all predicted to finish with 52 wins. The Aradesh Division could be a four-team race, though Boulder City is considered to be a bit behind the other three teams. 

 

Right now, the playoff predictions would be: 

1. North Vegas (Star Division)

2. Ultra Luxe (Aradesh Division)

3. Goodsprings (Bear Division) - Note: considered the tie-breaker winner based on computer analysis of run differential predictions (+19) as compared to Gomorrah (+2) and Tops (-15). 

4. South Vegas (Wild Card)

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6: April 2290

 

Standings

 

 

The defending champ Radscorpions started out the season with a loss, but have finished the month of April with a bang. With their combination of great pitching and stud hitters, they are hard to beat each day, and that should not change in 2290. 

 

Primm is the pleasant surprise of April. The Outlaws have come out of the brahmin pen swinging away, leading them to a first place tie with Goodsprings. Both teams are currently tied for the league's second best record, along with Boulder City. 

 

Playoff teams from a year ago, South Vegas (8-10) and Freeside (6-12), are struggling right now, and they will have to fins ways to improve themselves if they want to challenge for second place in 2290. 

 

April Awards

 

 

News and Notes

 

4.12.90 - Player injury

 

North Vegas minor league Clyde Brooks found himself face-to-face with perhaps the one creature you don't want to see in the Mojave: a Deathclaw Mother. Luckily for him, he lived to tell his tale. Unfortunately, though, his leg was ripped to shreds, and the second-round pick of this past draft will not get to see any more action, perhaps ever. 

 

Brooks is going to head to New Vegas for experimental treatment hoping to regain use of his leg. Until then, consider Brooks to be a wasted pick. 

 

4.15.90 - Tower Carlson news

 

Carlson Tosses Shutout: Today at Aerotech Office Park Tower Carlson of the Ultra Luxe White Gloves permitted 4 hits, walked 1 and fanned 5 during the 3-0 shutout win over the Tops Mutants.

 

4.21.90 - Bob Franklin news

 

MBL Player of the Week Named: Bob Franklin is respected by most Westside Sarsaparillas fans for his no-frills style of play. The 32-year-old center fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Mojave Baseball League Player of the Week honors.

 

He compiled a .435 average (10-23) with 3 home runs, 9 RBIs and 3 runs scored.

 

4.23.90 - Player suspension (major chem)

 

Novac's Matt Flamethrower was looking to have a big season. The Dinosaurs' starting pitcher started out well enough, going 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in two starts. 

 

Unfortunately, Flamethrower has tested positive for Jet and will now be put on ice for the next 50 games after testing positive for Jet. . 

 

4.30.90 - Player suspension (major chem)

 

A week after Novac lost a starting pitcher to a chem suspension, Boulder City received even worse news. Ace Sixto Deleon, who has been the Atomic Wranglers' only consistently solid starter the past three years, received news that he would be suspended 100 games for using Jet. 

 

Deleon was already in the MBL chem program for testing positive for Buffout in the past. Because he tested positive for a major chem, he received the mandatory second-offense suspension of 100 games. If he tests positive again, his MBL career will be over. Then he can be a full-time bouncer at the Atomic Wrangler Casino like he always dreamed. 

 

Deleon is also the second player in the Wranglers' organization to test positive for a major chem this month. Just over two weeks ago, minor league first-year player Eric Giantson tested positive for Slasher, giving him a 50-game suspension.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: May 2290

 

Standings

 

 

May Awards

 

 

News and Transactions

 

5.3.90 – Player suspension (major chem)

 

Just one day removed from hitting three home runs for Bitter Springs in the Prospects League, Westside franchise catcher Harris Kennedy was suspended 25 games for using a Stimpak. 

 

Kennedy stated that he knew he was not allowed to use a chem, but he was hurting after his three home runs. 

 

“Yeah, I used it,” Kennedy said. “Look, I put my heart out there and hit the ball as hard as I ever thought I could hit it. I also strained my chest muscle on the last play and knew I would be out at least a couple of weeks. It was a risk, but I had to take it if I want to play in the bigs.” 

 

5.9.90 – Jose Rosales news

 

Rosales Bewilders Lucky 38s in Shutout: An efficient outing for José Rosales usually means a win for Primm. Today was no exception, as the 30-year-old starter held Goodsprings to a long line of goose eggs. He struck out 6 and gave up 2 hits in the 6-0 shutout.

 

This season Rosales has a 4-1 record with a 1.94 ERA.

 

5.10.90 – Player trade

 

The Novac Dinosaurs traded 36-year-old left fielder Jim Welch and 21-year-old minor league shortstop António Féliz to the Boulder City Atomic Wranglers, getting 33-year-old right fielder Boy Gunnarsson in return.

 

5.10.90 – Player leave

 

Primm middle reliever Keith Heard has not had much playing time. After being traded during Winter Meetings from Freeside to Primm, he thought he would get a lot of action in the fledgling and struggling franchise. 

 

However, he has not taken advantage of his chances, thus limiting his visits to the mound in live action. Because of his frustration, Heard asked and was granted a short leave to “get things right.” 

 

He is expected to be back some time next week. 

 

5.13.90 – Player suspension (chem use)

 

Only two weeks removed from being named the MBL’s April Rookie of the Month, Nellis AFB’s Cleanbill Tomcat let the pressure of success get to him. May has been spotty, and now the rookie has been suspended 10 games for testing positive for Buffout. 

 

Since May 1, he has only had one multi-hit game, but has had three games of three or more strikeouts. One day after striking out four times in a game at Freeside, he tested positive for Buffout, perhaps to find his swing. We don’t know because he “ain’t talking.” 

 

Stay classy, Rook. 

 

5.14.90 – Player news

 

In a Mojave Baseball League first, Nellis AFB’s Cleanbill Tomcat has appealed his chem suspension. 

 

“Who’s going to believe a bunch of robots spitting out results?” he said. 

 

The commissioner’s office said that they were going to run diagnostics on the chem robots. According to a statement from Commissioner Lee, “For his sake, I hope the robots are off. It’s better to take responsibility for one’s mistakes.”

 

Commissioner Lee also stated that they would consider what to do if the robots’ diagnostics come out peachy. “We’ll discuss that. For now, it would still be just a ten-game suspension.” 

 

5.16.90 – Player injury

 

Westside starting right fielder Emilio Rodriguez was injured in an incident with a rogue Centaur. He fractured his knee in the incident from falling from a small cliff, and now Rodriguez will miss the rest of the 2290 season. 

 

5.17.90 – Player news

 

The results are in, and it turns out that Nellis AFB’s Cleanbill Tomcat is a damn liar. 

Diagnostics checks on the chem robots assigned to the Freeside field have come in, and they are working as expected. Apparently there was a long line of volunteers willing to use chems to test the robots. 

 

The commissioner’s office announced that Tomcat would receive a ten-game suspension beginning today for the chem use, as well as an additional five-game suspension for lying about the incident. 

 

Tomcat, who is in Red Rock Canyon for a series at Gomorrah, was unavailable for comment. The Nellis Air Force Base organization said that they would send him back to the Nellis AFB for counseling. 

 

5.21.90 – Tom Nelson news

 

Nelson Fashions Shutout Against Nellis AFB: He didn't put a spell on them. It wasn't black magic, it was just old-fashioned good pitching. That's how Tom Nelson of the South Vegas Vault Boys blanked the Nellis AFB Boomers 4-0.

 

After tossing a complete-game 6-hit shutout, he was all smiles, saying, "I threw a lot of my pitches for strikes in this game. I mixed it up and tried keeping these guys off balance."

 

His own skipper said, "He's at his best when he gets ahead of the hitters." Nelson walked 1 and struck out 5 in the victory.

 

The Boomers manager commented on their lack of success against him, saying, "He was throwing his breaking ball for strikes and we never capitalized on any of his mistakes."

 

Nelson has fashioned a 6-0 mark for the season, 1.24 ERA and thrown 58 innings in 8 starts. Opposing clubs are batting .222 against him.

 

5.25.90 – Player trade

 

The Freeside Kings traded 25-year-old center fielder Jerry Corbett to the Primm Outlaws, getting 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Lou Crosby in return.

 

5.26.90 – Bob Franklin news

 

Franklin: Big Hit in the Mojave Baseball League: Bob Franklin is respected by most Westside Sarsaparillas fans for his no-frills style of play. The 32-year-old center fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Mojave Baseball League Player of the Week honors.

 

He compiled a .444 average (8-18) with 4 home runs, 7 RBIs and 6 runs scored.

 

Franklin currently has a .319 batting average with 43 hits, 14 homers, 36 RBIs, 23 runs scored and a .357 OBP.

 

5.30.90 – Player trade

 

The Nellis AFB Boomers traded 25-year-old starting pitcher Horace Torgerson to the Primm Outlaws, getting 18-year-old minor league first baseman Edward Bush in return.

 

5.31.90 – Player trade

 

The Gomorrah Devils traded 34-year-old minor league third baseman Vincent Aerotech and 21-year-old minor league center fielder Art Everett to the Westside Sarsaparillas, getting 32-year-old reliever Bob Newsome in return.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: June 2290

 

Standings

 

 

June Awards

 

 

News and Transactions

 

6.13.90 – Player injury

 

Centaurs have been popping up in pockets in the Mojave. Whereas they were generally away from society, they are being found in pockets of civilization now. 

 

This time North Vegas’ Bill Cole fell victim to a Giant Evolved Centaur, severing his left leg and breaking his back in the encounter before the creature was blasted to death. Cole’s brothers, Will and Gil, were killed in the encounter. 

 

Cole will be out for the rest of the season for the first place Radscorpions. Chances are he may not play again. 

 

6.15.90 – Player suspension (chem use)

 

Three strikes are bad for batters in baseball. They are also bad for people in the MBL Chem Program. 

 

Despite being clean for four years, Freeside starting shortstop Jeremiah Morgan was caught using Med-X. As a three-time offender, he will now face a ban of at least 10 years according to Commissioner Lee’s policy. 

 

The Kings did not release a statement, but the Freeside manager was heard saying he was “really ****ing disappointed” in Morgan’s decisions. 

 

6.22.90 – Player trade

 

The Gomorrah Devils traded 37-year-old minor league left fielder Juan Atkins and 17-year-old minor league reliever Charlie Sullivan to the Primm Outlaws, getting 31-year-old closer Steve MacIntyre in return.

 

6.23.90 – Sancho Munoz news

 

Muñóz Wins MBL Trophy: Sancho Muñóz seems to put youthful exuberance into every pitch he throws and last week he threw up numbers that even the oldest of veterans would look at with envy. That's why the 23-year-old hurler was chosen the Mojave Baseball League Player of the Week Award.

 

Muñóz notched 2 wins for the Gomorrah Devils. He finished the week with 16 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.00 while holding the opposition to a .190 average.

 

This season Muñóz has a 6-3 record with a 3.28 ERA.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: July 2290

 

Standings

 

 

July Awards

 

 

News and Transactions

 

7.1.90 – Player news

 

North Vegas is suffering through sad news today, causing the game against Gomorrah to be postponed. 

 

Starting pitcher John Mulvaney, who was enjoying a good season for the Radscorpions, was murdered by teammate Dave Green following an argument between the two players. 

No one is sure the exact reason behind the deadly argument, but Green was apparently upset about being excluded from a team function hosted by Mulvaney. Though the event was several weeks ago, Green had complained about Mulvaney to other teammates. Problems may have occurred based on that situation. 

 

Green is in NCR custody now, having surrendered to military police after the incident. He is expected to be sent to the NCR Correctional Facility where he will be executed in time. 

Commissioner Lee released a statement: 

 

“First, I want to send out our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of John Mulvaney. 

 

“It is with regret that I have to address the situation of murder in the Mojave Baseball League. We live rough, tough lives, and death is a part of the Mojave. But it doesn’t have to be. I wish that something else could have been done to prevent the situation, but we must deal with the aftermath now of losing two young, talented players. 

 

“The series between North Vegas and Gomorrah is suspended until later this month when we will probably schedule the series in some type of double header. I am in North Vegas right now, and I have met with management and coaches of both teams. Everyone is shaken up by violence entering the baseball league at such a pressing degree. 

 

“My goal in establishing the Mojave Baseball League was to take people away from the violence of our wasteland and give them a positive stage to both escape their troubled lives and blow off steam at the same time. It is up to my office to try to assess what went wrong and see how we can avoid similar situations in the future.”

 

7.1.90 – Prospects League news

 

The Nipton Phoenix (48-31) have clinched the Central Division thanks to a 12-game lead over the New Vegas Steel Steelers (36-43) and the H&H Tool Company Reds (36-43) with 11 games to play. 

 

The Phoenix lost the Prospects League Championship three games to two last season against the 188 Traders. 

 

7.2.90 – MBL schedule update

 

The commissioner’s office released the updated schedule to mark the delayed games between North Vegas and Gomorrah. 

 

The Radscorpions and Devils will now play the series over two games on July 21 and 22. They will then travel to Gomorrah the next day to play a “doubleheader.” A doubleheader means that two teams play each other twice in one day. That means the two teams will play each other four times over three days. 

 

To give the teams a rest following the doubleheader, Gomorrah’s series with Nellis AFB has now been delayed from July 24-27 to July 25-28. Likewise, the Radscorpions’ series with Goodsprings will be delayed one day to be played July 25-28. 

 

7.9.90 – Player suspension (major chem use)

 

We have not been concentrating much on the shenanigans of Prospects League players very much unless necessary. The Nipton Phoenix’s (Freeside) Brant Carney gets the biggest “What the HELL?” moment of the 2090 PL season. 

 

Carney is 11-1 with a 2.06 ERA on the division champion Phoenix and probably on a fast track to the MBL club. He also was a shoe-in for the Pitcher of the Year award. Yet Carney tested positive for Fixer today, effectively shutting down his season and a good chunk of next due to the mandatory 50-game suspension. 

 

Seriously, dude. Control your instincts until the offseason when players are NOT tested. Idiot. 

 

7.13.90 – Prospects League news

 

The Mojave Express Couriers (51-39) blasted their way to a 15-2 victory over H&H Tool Company on the final day of the regular season to clinch the West Division and second overall seed of the Prospects League. 

 

Division mates, the Red Rock RobCo Robots (50-40) finished second but will be the wild card team in the PL playoffs. 

 

7.14.90 – Prospects League news

 

The 188 Traders (48-43) had to come back late, but they were able to tie the Cottonwood Cover Lakelurks (47-44) on the final day of the regular season and then beat them in a one-game playoff to clinch the East Division and the third seed of the Prospects League. 

 

The Traders will now have to face the second seed Mojave Express Couriers (51-39) in the first round of the 2290 PL playoffs. 

 

7.14.90 – Weldon Brown news

 

Player of the Week: Brown of the Radscorpions: At the age of 26, Weldon Brown might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The North Vegas catcher put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .375 batting average. For his efforts Brown collected the Mojave Baseball League Player of the Week Award.

 

He racked up 9 hits in 24 at-bats, 5 home runs and 9 RBIs last week in 6 games.

 

This season Brown has hit at a .275 clip with 62 RBIs, 25 home runs and 45 runs scored. He has played in 75 games.

 

7.19.90 – Rich Richmond news

 

Radscorpions Richmond Blanks Boomers: Rich Richmond shut 'em down and shut 'em out, hurling North Vegas past Nellis AFB 8-0 in a complete game victory.

 

He told BNN sportswriters in the postgame interview, "This is a game of adjustments and I made some good ones in this game."

 

Richmond held the Nellis AFB Boomers without a run, tossing a 6-hitter while walking 0 and fanning 10.

 

Over the season Richmond has thrown 114.2 innings and dished out 104 strikeouts with a 10-5 mark and a 2.98 ERA.

 

7.22.90 – Tower Carlson news

 

Sarsaparillas Whitewashed by Carlson: The Ultra Luxe White Gloves shut out the Westside Sarsaparillas behind the 6-hit pitching of Tower Carlson, winning by the score of 2-0 at Red Rock Canyon Auxiliary Field.

 

Looking at his season stats, Carlson has won 8 and lost 6, collecting 101 strikeouts and 21 walks in 142 innings with a 2.47 ERA.

 

7.24.90 – Player suspension (chem use)

 

Martin Valdes has not been with the MBL club for long, and now his chance may have shrunk due to testing positive for RadAway. The outfielder will now sit the next five games.

 

7.28.90 – Jimmy LaRue news

 

LaRue Nabs MBL Weekly Award: It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Jimmy LaRue, the Goodsprings Lucky 38s 24-year-old center fielder, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for Mojave Baseball League Player of the Week honors.

 

He ripped 11 hits in 21 at-bats, compiling a .524 average with 1 home run and 6 RBIs.

 

For the season, LaRue is hitting at a .402 clip with 9 home runs, 50 RBIs and has scored 51 runs. He has 145 hits, 17 walks and a .424 on-base percentage.

 

7.29.90 – Team accomplishment

 

North Vegas scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to slip by Boulder City and clinch a playoff spot in the 2290 playoffs. The defending champion Radscorpions (58-32) will be at least a wildcard team because of their victory and an 11-game lead over the fifth-seed between the division loser of Ultra Luxe and South Vegas, both currently 47-43. North Vegas also has a six-game lead over division rival Westside, which looks to be the team with the only shot to supplant the Radscorpions as the top seed in the playoffs.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: Prospects League

 

Final Standings

 

 

Playoffs

 

Play-in game

 

188 Traders 5 at Cottonwood Cove Lakelurks 1

Game MVP: Wilbur Jackson, SP, 188, 8.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 4 BB, 3 K

 

First Round

 

Game One: Nipton Phoenix 7 at Red Rock RobCo Robots 3

Game MVP: Greg Reid, CF/LF, Nipton, 1 for 3, GS HR, 4 RBI, R

 

Game One: Mojave Express Couriers 11 at 188 Traders 4

Game MVP: Matt Nelson, RF, Mojave Express, 4 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R

 

Game Two: Red Rock RobCo Robots 7 at Nipton Phoenix 4

Game MVP: Claudio Garcia, RF, Red Rock, 1 for 5, GS HR, 3 RBI, R

 

Game Two: 188 Traders 7 at Mojave Express Couriers 4

Game MVP: Tony Hernandez, LF, 188, 4 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R

 

Game Three: Red Rock RobCo Robots 5 at Nipton Phoenix 4

Game MVP: Boy Gunnarson, 3B, Red Rock, 2 for 3, HR, 4 RBI, R, 2 BB

 

Game Three: 188 Traders 5 at Mojave Express Couriers 3

Game MVP: Jacob Bednar, 1B, 188, 3 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI

 

Prospects League Championship

 

Game One: Red Rock RobCo Robots 7 at 188 Traders 5

Game MVP: Boy Gunnarson, 3B, Red Rock, 2 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB

 

Game Two: Red Rock RobCo Robots 4 at 188 Traders 5

Game MVP: Tony Todd, DH, 188, 2 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB

 

Game Three: 188 Traders 8 at Red Rock RobCo Robots 6

Game MVP: Tony Todd, DH, 188, 4 for 5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R

 

Game Four: 188 Traders 2 at Red Rock RobCo Robots 3

Game MVP: Hubert Pugh, SP, 188, 7.1 IP, 6 H, ER, 3 BB, 8 K

 

Game Five: Red Rock RobCo Robots 5 at 188 Traders 4, 10 innings

Game MVP: Steve Joker, SP, Red Rock, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

 

Statistical Leaders

 

Batting Leaders

 

 

Pitching Leaders

 

 

Season Awards

 

 

Other Awards

 

Postseason Award – Tony Todd, DH, 188 Traders

8 games, 33 AB, 13 H (.394 average), 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, SF, 2 K

[StLee 19]

Year 6: August 2290

 

Final Standings

 

 

Statistical Leaders

 

Batting Leaders

 

 

Pitching Leaders

 

 

News and Transactions

 

8.3.90 – David Martin news

 

Whiff-le Ball: Martin Puts Name in Record Book: One of the highlights of the year happened today at Goodsprings Park when David Martin of the Goodsprings Lucky 38s broke the season mark for strikeouts. Martin got his 166th strikeouts to break the old record set by Nate Camp. For his epic achievement he received an extended ovation by the fans that lasted several minutes. "Most of the time I just try to get the batter to hit my pitch. It's more efficient that way and you can go deeper into the game. Strikeouts demand more pitches, more stamina and can take a toll on your arm. I knew I was close to the season record today, so I was really psyched up for Ks. I wanted to get the record chasing over and done with and my name in the record book."

 

This season Martin has registered 6 wins and 10 losses in 21 starts with a 3.15 ERA.

 

8.4.90 – Player injury

 

Nellis Air Force Base catcher Vincent Harvey suffered an undisclosed injury to his knee and will miss the remainder of the season. Harvey suffered a knee injury in May that kept him out for five weeks. Some have reported that a debt collector from the Atomic Wrangler Casino took a lead pipe to his knee this time. I guess we will never kneeow. 

 

8.5.90 – Team accomplishment

 

Gomorrah has earned its first trip to the Mojave Baseball League playoffs, and they have done it in style. The Devils (53-43) defeated two-time champions Goodsprings (47-49) 2-0 with Clarence Woods throwing a complete-game two-hitter to clinch the Bear Division title. The Lucky 38s were officially eliminated from the playoffs with the loss. 

 

8.6.90 – Team accomplishments

 

The defending champion North Vegas (62-35) already knew they were in the playoffs. The only question was whether they would represent as the division champs or not. With a 5-2 win over Nellis Air Force Base, the Radscorpions clinched both the Star Division championship and the number one overall seed in the 2290 MBL playoffs. 

 

Division runner-up Westside (57-39) has now officially clinched the wildcard spot, meaning they wil be the fourth seed in the playoffs. The Sarsaparillas will face off in the first round against the second seed since they are in the same division as North Vegas. 

 

8.9.90 – Team accomplishment

 

Despite losing 3-2 at Tops, Gomorrah (54-45) has clinched second seed in the 2290 MBL playoffs and will face Westside (59-40) in the first round. Ultra Luxe and South Vegas, both 52-47, both lost to give the Devils the second seed. The White Gloves and Vault Boys are battling for the final spot in the playoffs. 

 

8.11.90 – Team accomplishment

 

Ultra Luxe and South Vegas both finished the regular season 53-47 and in a tie for the Aradesh Division lead. Thus they had to meet in a one-game playoff to determine which team would be the third seed and unfortunate opponent of North Vegas (63-37) in the first round of the 2290 MBL playoffs. 

 

And the result went to Ultra Luxe, who pulled out a 2-1 road victory to clinch the third seed in the playoffs. Jim Crouch gave up one unearned run in six innings, and three relievers combined to shut down the Vault Boys and prevent their return trip to the playoffs. 

 

The 2290 playoffs are now set with first-seed North Vegas being the only return team from a year ago. The Radscorpions are hosting third seed Ultra Luxe in the first round. Westside, the fourth seed will face second-seed Gomorrah in the other playoff matchup.

 

8.12.90 – Jimmy LaRue news

 

LaRue Is MBL Swing King: The 2290 baseball season has come to a close. And what a year it has been for Goodsprings's Jimmy LaRue. He finished off an all-star caliber year with the Mojave Baseball League batting title. He topped all comers with a .396 batting average and registered 9 home runs and 55 RBIs in 100 games.

[StLee 19]

Year 6: Playoffs - First Round Preview

 

 

North Vegas has been to the playoffs in four of the six Mojave Baseball League seasons. This is Ultra Luxe’s first trip. Though the usuals of the MBL playoffs are different this season, the White Gloves will have a tough task getting past the defending champions. 

 

The Radscorpions, of course, are formidable, despite losing two of their players just over a month ago to a violent incident. The pitching staff is a beast. Things start with ace Rich Richmond. Though he had a down year by his standards (12-6, 3.27 ERA), he still led the team to multiple victories. Along with Richmond, Nate Camp has been a driving force for the Radscorpions. He posted team best statistics with a 12-3 record, a 1.87 ERA, and 131 strikeouts. Glenn Brady, a former first round pick of Goodsprings, has finally emerged as a pitching threat. In fact, he emerged well enough to earn the top pitcher award for the month of July. Dave Davis only had 11 starts on the season, but in those 11 starts he went 7-0 with a 2.45 ERA.  Of course, all things end with closer Basket Zapp, who notched a league-leading 32 saves. 

 

On offense, catcher Weldon Brown and first baseman George O’Kill are a suffocating one-two punch for the Radscorpions. Both hit over 20 home runs for the second straight year. Ernest Emmons is a great leadoff hitter, skilled at getting on base and then stealing a base or two. He led the league with 57 steals. 

 

Ultra Luxe is led by an overachieving pitching staff. In his first full season as a starting pitcher, Dominic “Brahmin Tit” Dillingham led the Mojave Baseball league in wins with 15. The 19-year-old looks to be a strikeout master, recording 167 in 155.1 innings pitched. He also had an impressive 3.01 ERA. Despite Dillingham’s success, Tower Carlson is considered to be the staff ace and the most talented up-and-comer in the MBL. Carlson did not have as much run support as Dilligham, but he still finished 9-8 with a 2.35 ERA (fourth in the league) while leading the league with 172 innings pitched, five complete games, and two shutouts. Playoff veteran Jim Crouch is not as dominant as he once was, but the former NCR Bear has lots of know-how for helping his team overcome first-year shakes. 

 

The White Gloves’ offense could be their downfall. Left fielder Harris Cazadore is probably the most complete hitter on the team, but he does not have the superstar numbers some of the other teams’ players have. Cazadore led the team in average (.298) and RBI (62) and finished second in home runs (16). First baseman Francisco Riveria led the team in home runs with 17. He also finished with a .296 batting average and 41 RBI. 

 

Because of North Vegas’ experience and superior talent, this series is not expected to be competitive, and we have the Radscorpions beating Ultra Luxe in three games. 

 

 

For Westside and Gomorrah, there is not much to talk about when it comes to the playoffs. Of the two teams, the Sarsaparillas made a single trip in 2287 when they were run over four games to one in the first round versus eventual champion, Goodsprings. For the Devils, they have never been anywhere near the playoffs. However, Gomorrah has had the number one Prospects League team over the years, the 188 Traders. That means, they were loaded with future talent, which may be coming of age now. 

 

Still, Westside appears to be the better current team, finishing in second place in their division and in the league at 60-40. Gomorrah was 55-45, but lost six of eight games to the Sarsaparillas on the season. 

 

Westside’s main power comes from its number one offense, scoring 476 runs and hitting 133 home runs to lead the Mojave Baseball League. The Sarsaparillas have the five-headed mutant in Edward Simpson, Dave Griffin, Robert Glass, Bob Franklin, and Jeffery Thomason, who combined to hit between 16 and 26 home runs and knock in between 53 and 75 runs each. Franklin, the team’s catcher, is the MBL all-time home run king (172 HR), with teammates Glass (117 HR) and Griffin (112 HR) falling sixth and seventh on that list. Westside does not depend only on power, though, with several of their hitters qualifying for the top five in several hitting categories. 

 

The part of the squad that does not make the Sarsaparillas complete is the pitching staff. As good as their offense is, their pitching and defense keeps them from being a truly dominant team. Starter Brandon Kerr was probably the biggest surprise after arriving via a trade prior to the 2290 season. Kerr racked up a team-best 10-2 record with a 3.69 ERA in 20 starts. Staff ace Will Stewart (10-7, 4.26 ERA) and their other talented starter Angel Polanco (9-9, 3.05 ERA) did not fare well, and they will have to be better in the playoffs. Closer Carlos Colon is probably the second-best closer in the league after North Vegas’ Zapp, and he had another outstanding season with a 1.67 ERA and 32 saves.

 

Whereas Westside relies on its steady offense to beat teams, the Devils depended on an outstanding pitching performance in 2290. At the top of the staff is Sancho Munoz. Munoz paced the Gomorrah success by going 8-6 with a 3.09 ERA in 21 starts. He also added 154 strikeouts in 128.1 innings while only walking 26. The real hero, though, may be Winston Walker. Last season’s Prospects League Pitcher of the Year and the Postseason Award winner with the 188 Traders made a huge impact in his Mojave Baseball League rookie year. He finished the season at 9-5 with a 2.67 ERA to help turn the Gomorrah franchise from worst to first candidates. Playoff veteran Wilfred Buckley also starts for Gomorrah, giving them a definitive pitching edge over Westside. 

 

On offense, the Devils struggle overall, but not due to the efforts of catcher Frederick Sharpe. Sharpe led the squad in home runs (19) and RBI (65). Left fielder Mike Plasmagun is the only other player on the team with any real power (17 home runs), but Gomorrah is OK overall as a team at getting runners on. They just have to find ways to string multiple hits together against the Sarsaparillas’ pitching. 

 

This series looks to be more competitive than the other first round matchup. We think Westside will take the series in five games to meet their division rival in the finals.

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #3 Ultra Luxe vs #1 North Vegas - Game One

 

Ultra Luxe Takes 1-0 Lead

 

Tower Carlson pitched eight shutout innings and George Gray hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to lead Ultra Luxe over top-seed North Vegas, 4-1. 

 

Each team only managed four hits in the game, with the Radscorpions’ only meaningful hit being a ninth-inning home run over closer Merlin Huggins. Huggins earned the save. 

 

Rich Richmond was the losing pitcher, giving up three runs, one earned, on four hits in seven innings of work. 

 

Carlson only allowed two hits and five base runners total in eight innings.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #4 Westside vs #2 Gomorrah - Game One

 

Westside Up 1-0

 

Will Stewart pitched a gem of a game, allowing just one earned run in 7 1/3 innings, in the Sarsaparillas’ 4-1 Game One victory over Gomorrah. 

 

Robert Glass’ solo home run to lead off the fourth inning proved to be the winning run to give Westside a 2-1 lead at that point. The Sarsaparillas also added two more runs on Devils’ errors. 

 

Sancho Munoz was the losing pitcher for Gomorrah despite pitching well. He allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #3 Ultra Luxe vs #1 North Vegas - Game Two

 

Radscorpions Win in 12, Even Series

 

Two straight 12th inning errors by Ultra Luxe’s third baseman Jorge Chavez allowed Chris Towns to reach base and then score to give North Vegas a 5-4 victory over Ultra Luxe in Game Two of the First Round Series.

 

Chavez entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter for Brian Gilbert. He stayed in and played out of position from his more comfortable second base slot. Still, his errors were the direct reason the Radscorpions took Game Two. 

 

With one out in the 12th, Towns hit a routine grounder off reliever Jay Conrad to Chavez, but Chavez bobbled the ball and dropped it as he was trying to throw. After Towns stole second, Arthur Glass hit a ball right at Chavez that bounded off his glove into foul territory beyond third base. Towns easily came around to score on the play before it could be fielded, ending the game in anticlimactic fashion. 

 

Basket Zapp was credited with the victory for his effort in one inning of shutout pitching. Both starters in the game, Dominic Dillingham of the White Gloves and Dave Davis of North Vegas, had no decisions.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #4 Westside vs #2 Gomorrah - Game Two

 

Westside Offense Opens Up in Seventh, Takes 2-0 Lead

 

Westside trailed 3-1 entering the seventh inning before shortstop Dave Griffin stepped up to the plate. With the bases loaded, Griffin went yard, giving the Sarsaparillas a 5-3 lead on their way to an 8-4 Game Two victory and a 2-0 series lead over Gomorrah. 

 

Angel Polanco earned the win for the Sarsaparillas, allowing three earned runs on 12 hits with a walk and a strikeout in six innings. Carlos Colon earned his second straight save. 

 

John Harrison was the losing pitcher for the Devils, allowing three earned runs on two hits with a walk and strikeout in just a third of an inning in relief of starter Winston Walker.  

 

Gomorrah scored only four runs despite getting 18 hits (16 singles) in the game.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #3 Ultra Luxe vs #1 North Vegas - Game Three

 

Radscorpions Score 19, Soil White Gloves

 

Backup outfielder Norris Carr got a rare start and exploded with four hits, four RBI, and two runs in pacing North Vegas to a 19-3 victory over Ultra Luxe in Game Three of their first round series. 

 

Ernest Emmons added another four hits and Arthur Glass contributed with four RBI and three runs scored in an offensive explosion by the defending champions. 

 

Nate Camp earned the victory for the Radscorpions. He allowed just two earned runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts in seven innings. 

 

The White Gloves’ Ron Heath was the loser, allowing seven earned runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout in two innings. Heath allowed six runs to score in the third inning before he was pulled for reliever David Bennett. In all, Ultra Luxe used seven pitchers in the game, few of them finding any success.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #4 Westside vs #2 Gomorrah - Game Three

 

Devils Burn Westside, Extend Series

 

Wilfred Buckley pitched a complete game and the Gomorrah offense found the plate in an 11-2 Game Three victory over Westside. 

 

Buckley allowed just two earned runs on seven hits to earn Game MVP honors. 

 

DJ Gas Mask Cartwright went yard in the game and had three RBI to lead the offensive charge. Nick Walters added three hits, knocked in two, and scored two times. 

 

Brandon Kerr suffered the loss for the Sarsaparillas. He allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in 2.2 innings.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #3 Ultra Luxe vs #1 North Vegas - Game Four

 

NV Shuts Out UL, Wins Series 3-1

 

Rich Richmond pitched seven shutout innings, allowing North Vegas to cruise past Ultra Luxe 8-0 to win their first round series and move on to the Mojave Series for the second straight year. 

 

Richmond allowed only two of the White Gloves’ three hits in the game and struck out five batters, never allowing Ultra Luxe to threaten. 

 

Tower Carlson suffered the loss for the White Gloves. He allowed five earned runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three innings pitched. 

 

No one player had an outstanding game for North Vegas. Squirrel And was 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI, and a run. 

 

Left fielder Arthur Glass of North Vegas was the series MVP. In four games, he was 5 for 16 (.313) with two doubles, eight RBI, four runs, three walks, a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, and two strikeouts.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #4 Westside vs #2 Gomorrah - Game Four

 

Gomorrah, Sharpe Knife the Sarsaparillas

 

Frederick Sharpe had two extra base hits and drove in three runs to lead Gomorrah to an 8-3 Game Four victory over Westside. The series is now tied at two games apiece. 

 

Sharpe had an RBI double in the first inning and a two-RBI home run in the seventh to lead the Devils in batting. Gomorrah had a total of six extra base hits in the game. 

 

Sancho Munoz was the winning pitcher, allowing two earned runs on two hits with five strikeouts in five innings. 

 

Will Stewart was the losing pitcher for Westside, giving up six runs, five earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: #4 Westside vs #2 Gomorrah - Game Five

 

Westside’s Griffin Slams Devils, Sarsaparillas Takes Series

 

Westside entered the eighth inning trailing 4-2.  However, Dave Griffin had his second chance to make his at bat count in the first round series between the Sarsaparillas and Gomorrah. And he did just that. 

 

Griffin’s grand slam, his second of the series, was the difference in the Sarsaparillas’ 7-4 Game Five victory over the Devils. Westside will now move on to face top-seeded North Vegas in the Mojave Series. 

 

Griffin also homered in the fourth inning, giving him six RBI in the game. He was also named the series MVP after going 7 for 19 (.368) with two doubles, four home runs, two grand slams, 11 RBI, seven runs, a walk, a hit by pitch, and four strikeouts. 

 

Angel Polanco earned his second victory in the series, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in seven innings. Carlos Colon had his third save. 

 

K White was the losing pitcher. He did not record an out in the eighth inning, giving up three earned runs on a hit and two walks and Griffin’s grand slam. Winston Walker was the starter for Gomorrah. In 7.1 innings, he gave up three earned runs on six hits with nine strikeouts.

 

[StLee 19]

Year 6 Playoffs: Mojave Series Preview

 

 

Defending-champion North Vegas looked to be the class of the league. Wild card finisher Westside, however, has not been intimidated. 

 

When the two teams face off in the 2290 Mojave Series, you can bet the teams know they are the bosses of the Mojave. The Radscorpions (63-37) and Sarsaparillas (60-40) were the definitive two best teams in the league, and they also matched up well on the field, splitting their 12 season games, six games apiece. 

 

Their first matchup was in Westside from May 9 to May 11. There North Vegas took two of three: 6-1, 9-5, 4-6. Rich Richmond struck first, giving up one earned run on seven hits with nine strikeouts in eight innings for the first victory. In the second game, the Radscorpions’ Nate Camp was injured in the first inning, but the offense picked up the pace. Nelson Kirby singled, doubled, and homered in the game to lead the offensive charge. Westside was able to salvage a win in the Sunday game thanks to Dave Griffin’s five RBI through a two-RBI double and two-run home run. 

 

The second meeting came in North Vegas from June 2-4. North Vegas again took the series in three: 3-0, 2-5, 4-3. In the first game, John Mulvaney dominated the Sarsaparillas by pitching eight shutout innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while also striking out nine. Westside won the second game thanks to solid pitching by Will Stewart (two earned runs on four hits with two walks in eight innings) and three runs in the top of the ninth. In the third game of the set, the Radscorpions’ Arthur Glass knocked in three runs, including a walkoff two-RBI double to seal the comeback victory. 

 

From July 4-6, the teams again played in North Vegas. There the Sarsaparillas finally took a series two games to one: 4-1, 1-4, 11-6. Jeffery Thomason led the charge for Westside in the first game, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning that proved to be the game winner. Camp finally pitched his masterpiece against Westside in the second game, allowing just one earned run on three hits with nine strikeouts in eight innings. In the final game, the Sarsaparillas’ bats woke up big. Five players had multiple hits, including starting pitcher Rhyme Killer King, who doubled twice and drove in two runs. 

 

The final series came in the season finale when seeds were already set. There Westside took the last two games of three to even the season series: 2-4, 5-0, 1-0. In the first game, the Radscorpions scored two runs in the top of the eighth to complement Dave Davis’ two-run, five-hit effort. The Sarsaparillas then held North Vegas to 19 straight scoreless innings, shutting them out in the final two games. Griffin hit a three-run blast and King pitched six scoreless innings to lead the charge in the second game. In the final game of the season, Angel Polanco outdueled Glenn Brady by pitching seven scoreless innings before giving way to the bullpen. 

 

On the season, Westside had a few players who stood out against the Radscorpions. Griffin and Thomason hit four homers apiece in the 12-game set, with Griffin driving in 13 runs. King went 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA in his three starts. Will Stewart was 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA. 

 

The best players for North Vegas were Kirby with his four homers and nine RBI, Camp with a 1-0 record and a 2.76 ERA, and Richmond with a 1-1 record and a 1.69 ERA. 

 

Both teams match up well, and this should be an exciting Mojave Series. We are going to give a slight edge to the defending champions and predict the Radscorpions to take the series in seven games.