(1) Australia 10 (8) Greenland 1

VWBC
SYDNEY - The star-studded Australian team joined the other three 1 seeds in the third round with no problem earlier today. Their opponents, Greenland, posed no problem whatsoever to the powerful and efficient Australian attack. Australia's defense also stifled Greenland all the way through. No doubt the Greenlanders will take this loss hard, with the long and proud baseball tradition of that nation. Unfortunately for them, they were not able to field an impressive team this time around, but in Greenland there can be no doubt that in that baseball culture they will return in force next time. For Australia, the rapidly growing baseball hub of the Asian region, this win shows that they have finally clicked, after a somewhat shaky start, only defeating Canada 2-0. Australia's emerging baseball scene is drawing young talent as well as players from around the globe, and with this tournament Australian baseball seems finally to be coming into its own. Australia will play the winner of USA vs. New Zealand, both of those teams looking like they should pose a fierce challenge to Australian might in the next round.

(1) Chad 3 (9) Morocco 2

VWBC
N'Djamena - Earlier today, heavily favored Chad barely slipped past would-be giant killers Morocco. In front of a capacity crowd at their home stadium, which contained a surprising amount of Morocco supporters in addition to the majority of Chad fans, the Chad team survived a serious challenge from the upstart Moroccans. Having only won only 2-0 against Angola, widely regarded as little bettter than a team for batting practice, the top seeded Chad squad was out to prove their worth and reputation in a second round match with Morocco, another weak team. It looked good for Chad early with them scoring a run in both of the first two innings, but then their offense shut down. Also, Morocco tied it up in the 7th, and were only prevented from getting more runs by a costly baserunning mistake when their centerfielder unwisely tried to turn a double into a triple. Had that not happened, the outcome of the game would likely have been very different, as the bases were loaded at the time, but that was the third out so two runs that would have scored were discounted. The stalemate continued until the 9th, where the tense Chad fans were being clearly outvoiced by the hopeful Morocco supporters. But in the bottom of the 9th with one out and a man on second, a walk off double by Oshan Kamavila of Chad catapulted Chad into round 3. The next round should hold a harrowing challenge for Chad though, if the Democratic Republic of the Congo beats Madagascar as expected. The DRC is one of the excellent top 4 in the African region, and if Chad continues their weak play, they will no longer be able to get away with it. Morocco will go home with a considerable amount of respect, this bunch of no-names having given an extremely talented team a serious scare.

(1) Mongolia 10 (8) Saudi Arabia 0

VWBC
UlaanBaatar - In front of a jubilant home crowd, top seed Mongolia rolled over Saudi Arabia yesterday. The Mongolians continued to cruise in a tournament that has given them no challenges so far, and in which they have not yet conceded a run. Mongolia gave a dominating performance all around, while the Saudi Arabians just could not get their game clicking. Mongolia will face the winner of Thailand vs. Qatar in the next round, both underdogs who won in shocking upsets in the first round. Saudi Arabia's results in this tournament were mediocre, they won in the first round but were doubtless hoping to at least put up a fight against Mongolia in round 2.

(1) Germany 6 (8) Poland 2

VWBC
BERLIN - In the beginning of what promises to be an explosive round 2, the high-powered German squad took there second challenge of the tourney in stride with a decisive 6-2 defeat of Poland. The Poles presented Germany with a bit more of an opponent than their victims in the first round, Wales, but the Germans still combined powerful hitting (they had four home runs) with stifling defense to move on. German star Erdom Hissler ignited their offense with two home runs, one of which was immediately followed by another homerun from teammate Jon Ronlin, with the back-to-back homers igniting the home crowd in Berlin. The German defense was similarly dominant, allowing only two runs for the second time in a row this tournament. The only Polish gasp of offense came in the 6th inning, where a few singles and a walk combined to give them two runs. Germany will move on to face the winner of Italy vs. England, either squad should give them their first real challenge of the tournament. The Poles will certainly go home to mixed reaction, their first round defeat of Latvia gave them a solid foundation to build on, and they were unfortunate to have to face a top seed in round 2, yet the fact remains that they only won one game.

Second Round Matchups

VWBC
There was originally a two day break scheduled between the first and second rounds, the tournament organizers, taking into account the already long delay that was suffered from the rioting, and the two day rainout delay of the last two matches, have decided to proceed immediately. All matchups for the second round will take place in the country of the 1 seed for that region. Here are the matches:
Europe Region
Games to be played at Berliner Heimatland-Stadion:
(1) Germany vs. (8) Poland June 27
(4) England vs. (5) Italy June 29
(11) Ireland vs. (14) Liechtenstein July 1
(2) Scotland vs. (10) Greece July 3
Asia/Middle East Region
Games to be played at Ulaanbaatar Diamond:
(1) Mongolia vs. (8) Saudi Arabia June 27
(12) Qatar vs. (13) Thailand June 29
(3) Indonesia vs. (11) Nepal July 1
(2) Sweden vs. (7) Phillipines July 3
Africa Region
Games to be played at coeur de desert Stade in N'Djamena, Chad:
(1) Chad vs. (9) Morocco June 28
(4) Democratic Republic of the Congo vs. (5) Madagascar June 30
(3) Egypt vs. (11) Libya July 2
(2) Sierra Leone vs. (7) Namibia July 4
Americas/Islands Region
Games to be played at Sydney Stadium:
(1) Australia vs. (8) Greenland June 28
(5) USA vs. (13) New Zealand July 4 (the date for the USA-New Zealand game was changed, due to a direct request from the USA, to July 4, a national holiday in the US)
(3) St. Lucia vs. (6) Mexico June 30
(2) Jamaica vs. (7) Chile July 2

First Round Concluded!

VWBC
It all started with 64 teams, all coming in rampant with enthusiasm. Now 32 remain, and the competition is about to get fiercer than ever. In a first round filled with twists, turns, and even two weeks of rioting, the world comes away from their first taste of the VWBC having seen a dynamic, exciting, and dramatic tournament, and it will only get more pressure-packed. Looking back on this round, we can see that it contained a bit of everything. There were upsets, (Thailand's shocker over Switzerland, and Lietchentstein's inspiring defeat of Austria in front of a home crowd), although all the 1 and 2 seeds made it through. There were protracted battles (the 16 inning contest between Sweden and Norway) and rivalries played out to satisfying and glorious (for one side) conclusions (Scotland's dismantling of France). Now, heading into round 2, the passions of fans in all countries are awakening, and the world is attuned to the tournament, with the happiness of nations living and dying with their teams. One remarkable nation is Thailand, whose relatively unknown team did the seemingly impossible, knocking out the mighty Swiss. Now this nation, comparatively new to baseball, is taking an astounding interest, with a national rally for the Thai team drawing hundreds of thousands from throughout the country. Thailand is eagerly awaiting their team's fortunes in the next round, with flights from Thailand to Mongolia, the site of their second-round showdown with Qatar, booked solid. Of course, the only thing remarkable about Thailand's passion is that they had never before been much interested in baseball. Similar events are occuring throughout the world in nations that have advanced. For some, like Thailand and Liechtenstein, merely making the second round is an achievement by itself. For others, a loss in the second round would be a disgrace to baseball in their country. As the VWBC moves forward, the world waits, enthralled in the excitement of the grandest baseball tournament in history.

(2) Jamaica 6 (15) Colombia 4

VWBC
COQUIMBO - In the dramatic conclusion to the first round of play at the VWBC, a last-ditch effort saved Jamaica from certain disgrace and shock. Coming into the matchup, the Jamaicans were heavily favored over 15 seed Colombia, and the game was expected to be merely a chance for Jamaica fine tune their team, but it escalated to a fight for their very survival, against the valiant Colombian underdogs. Through the first innings, both team's offenses were frustrated, until the Colombian bats produced two runs in the top of the 4th. Colombian pitching continued to stymie the Jamaican attack, and Colombia added two more runs in the 7th. The mood of the thousands of Jamaican fans that had come for the game, which had started as raucous enthusiasm, became progressively darker until the bottom of the 9th, Jamaica's last chance, down by 4 runs, to prevent a very early exit from the tournament. Finally, the Jamaican bats came alive, scoring two runs and loading the bases with no outs, but then the Colombians took out their starter and put in their closer, who quickly gained two outs, and the Jamaican offensive seemed too little too late. However, on a 3-2 count with their chances of survival on the line, Jamaican 1st baseman Vishon Palmera blasted a walk-off grand slam to deep left, catapulting the Jamaican's past the near-upset and crushing the jubilant hopes of the upstart Colombians. In Colombia, though, it is sure that no one will be disappointed, with their team doing much better than expected, a strong foundation for their future is in place. The conclusion of the first round was as good a game as anyone could have hoped for, and will hopefully be a taste of what is to come in the next, even more pressure-filled rounds here at the VWBC.

(2) Sierra Leone 8 (15) Ghana 0

VWBC
FREETOWN - After two consecutive rainouts, the conclusion of the first round for the African region took place this morning, with heavily favored Sierra Leone defeating Ghana in an 8-0 tour de force of power, skill, and pitching. Although the outcome was expected, home team Sierra Leone achieved victory in a solid fashion, chalking up three home runs and allowing only one hit. The Sierra Leone offense got into gear in the second inning with 4 runs, and added to their lead later in the 3rd, 6th, and 8th. With their victory, Sierra Leone has proven themselves a team threatening to indeed go far in this tournament, and this victory looked like merely a tune-up for the next stages. Their next match is expected to also be not much of a challenge, as they face 7th seeded Namibia in round 2.

(2) Sweden 2 (15) Norway 1

VWBC
NEPAL - In the finale of the thrilling first round for the Asia group, the best game of the tournament yet saw Sweden defeat Norway 2-1 after an astounding 16 innings. Norway was on the verge of a major upset when they were able to score one run in the top of the 9th, but it was not to be as Sweden came back with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, just as the Norwegian's moment of glory had seemed to have come at last, when a solo homer by Henrik Searik made it 1-1, sending the game to extra innings. For 6 innings the two Scandinavian sides were locked in a defensive battle, when at last in the bottom of the 9th, in what seemed to be another uneventful inning with one out and no one on, Henrik Searik scorched a walk-off shot, and was mobbed by jubilant Swedes. Norway came so close, yet so far away, to securing a place in baseball lore with what would have been an amazing upset against their Scandinavian rivals. The Swedes were gracious victors, acknowledging the stellar Norwegian effort. "They have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about," said Henrik Searik, the hero of the game. Searik and his Swedish squad will next play 10 seed Phillipines in round 2.

(2) Scotland 16 (15) France 0

VWBC
VADUZ - "What a thrashing." the words of Scotland's head coach, Hamish Argy best describe today's 16-0 "thrashing" of France by Scotland. A fierce baseball rivalry exists between the two European countries, and in both this match had been anticipated months, ever since the pairing was announced. The French were protesting for weeks after their 15th seeding, saying they deserved better. Scotland's players boldly challenged the French to stop whining and prove it on the field, which the French of course responded to with equal vehemence. Despite their complaints, trash talk, and the like, the French have nothing to say after the slaughter tonight. Their starter was taken out in the first inning after giving up 4 runs without even recording an out, and it went from there. The Scots hit 9, yes that is not a typo, 9 home runs, and the French used every pitcher on their roster, none of whom could find an answer for the Scottish attack. The French will have no consolation, not even one run, to look back on, as the Scottish defense was dominating and the French bats were quiet, scoring only one hit. The Scots certainly have bragging rights in this fierce rivalry, and it has been speculated that the French players will scarcely be able to show their faces for months. It will most definitely be two miserable years for French baseball until they have the chance to avenge their defeat on the world's most important baseball stage, for the VWBC is tentatively set to take place every two years. After what is sure to be a few nights of rowdy partying across Scotland, they will turn their attention to their second round match with 10th seeded Greece, undoubtedly brimming with confidence from this total victory, Scotland is shaping up to be a formidable threat to win this tournament at this early stage.

June 16-22

VWBC
The Vertissimoto World Baseball championship would like to apologize for the delay, but the results for the past week of play are in:
June 16:
(6) Hungary 2 (11) Ireland 5
(6) India 2 (11) Nepal 3
June 17:
(6) Kenya 0 (11) Libya 2
(6) Mexico 6 (11) Guatemala 2
June 18:
(3) Austria 2 (11) Liechtenstein 7
(3) Indonesia 18 (11) Laos 2
June 19:
(3) Egypt 7 (14) Tanzania 0
(3) St. Lucia 4 (14) Venezuala 2
June 20:
(7) Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (10) Greece 5
(7) Phillipines 8 (10) Denmark 3
June 21:
(7) Namibia 14 (10) Lesotho 4
(7) Chile 7 (10) Cuba 3
June 22: (see above posts for game descriptions)
(2) Scotland 16 (15) France 0
(2) Sweden 2 (15) Norway 1 (16 innings)

Also, for easy recognition, the winners of the first-round matches have been bolded in post with all the first round matchups.

(4) Argentina 2 (13) New Zealand 4

BOSTON - In the finale of first round play at Fenway Park in Boston, underdog New Zealand, a team with a big chip on their shoulder, defeated Argentina 4-2. Although by seeds New Zealand would be a huge underdog, many believed that they were seeded too low, an opinion that was quite aggresively expressed by the New Zealand team themselves. They proved that they could walk the walk too today with their win over powerful Argentina. They held Argentina's offense in check with the exception of the 4th inning, where they were able to escape a bases-loaded no outs jam with only giving up two runs. This win sets up the desired second-round matchup of New Zealand and USA, a match long desired by both teams due to the long-standing rivalry between the two.

(4) DRC 6 (13) Ethiopia 0

VWCB
ANTANARIVO - The skill-packed DRC squad today defeated Ethipia 6-0. The rematch of the game that sparked the 10 days of rioting proved to be much less exciting than the original match. For all the intensity that was packed into the start of this game, it turned out exactly as expected, with DRC blowing past Ethiopia. Starter Oshava Kesharo cleaned house for the DRC, allowing only 2 hits and striking out 11, shutting down the Ethiopian offense. Meanwhile, the DRC offense used their trademark slow and steady scoring to build a six run lead, more than enough to win. The DRC rounds out the extremely talented top four of an otherwise weak African region. They advance to play 5 seed Madagascar in the 2nd round. Although only one seed seperates the two teams, Madagascar is widely regarded as the "best of the rest" in the African region. The match is expected to be but a prelude to the expected DRC showdown with top-seeded Chad in the 3rd round.

(4)Switzerland 1 (13)Thailand 4

VWBC
ISTANBUL - In a shocking upset, Thailand defeated a powerful Swiss squad 4-1 today. The heavily favored Swiss were undone by a series of defensive mistakes, almost all in the 6th inning. The Swiss enjoyed a 1-0 lead, gained in the 2nd, until the 6th inning. Then they unraveled completely, letting in 4 runs, only three of them earned. A succession of errors and walks allowed Thailand to get in the 4 runs, which were all they needed to win. Although Swiss players hit the ball hard throughout the game, brilliant defense by Thai players stopped them cold. When the Swiss did get hits, which still happened often, they were not timely. Defense and clutch scoring were the game-breakers in this one, and Thailand had both. They advance to play fellow upset-victors Qatar in the 2nd round.
This match concluded 1st round play in Istanbul Arena, from there the Asian Region games will move to Foothills Stadium in Nepal, set against the majestic backdrop of Mt. Everest, where home team Nepal will play on Friday.

(4)England 8 (13)Spain 1

VWBC
LONDON - The powerful English team blew away Spain today in the final match for London Stadium's first-round hosting. Although the outcome was not unexpected, the solidness of England's win will strengthen their confidence for the upcoming rounds. In front of a packed house of home-team supporters on their home diamond at London Stadium, the English played a solid game all the way through. They got their offensive started in the 2nd with a bases-loaded double by centerfielder Henry Prewett. Later in the 2nd, they added to their leads with a couple walks and a two-run homer by first baseman Isaac Young, bringing their lead to 4-0. They added to their lead later in the 6th and 7th. The English defense was indomitable all the way through, with starter James Pawson delivering a dominating complete game performance. The unprecedented nature of the tournament will allow the English to continue to use Pawson for most of their games, with over a week before they play next. The only gasp of offense for Spain came in the 8th when a triple from Graza Impaa was followed by a couple walks and a single, driving him in. The Spanish were not expected to go far in this tournament, but after the match they stated that now with some world-class experience under their belts they expect to improve their performance greatly when (and if) they return in 2 years. England advances to the second round, where they will play 5th-seeded Italy.

CHAOS!!!

VWBC
Due to unsettling world events, overhomework-giving, rain, whining by the French, and general moodiness around the world, the Vertissimoto World Baseball Championship has been running waay off track. After the first three days of competition, which went swimmingly, tensions ran high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vs. Ethiopia match at Tanindrazana stadium in Madagascar. In the bottom of the 5th, after an Ethiopian umpire called Andrew Husmar of Ethiopia safe at first on a close play, DRC supporters stormed the field. Ethiopian fans then ran at them, and the situation quickly escalated into a full-scale brawl.
Hearing of this news at other locations around the world, simmering tensions erupted in similar ways. Many nations withdrew from the tournament on complaints ranging from sports related to political. There was rioting near almost all of the VWBC locations, with groups ranging from students protesting homework to French baseball fans proclaiming that the qualifying was fixed. Newspapers around the world blamed the BWBC for the global unrest, and the tournament's future seemed doomed.
Tournament organizers, however, pulled off a heroic effort and did the seemingly impossible. Acknowledging that it was a mistake to have an Ethiopian umpire officiating a game in which his country was playing, they pledged that all games would have umpires from countries not participating. Police were called in, and over the course of this past week or two they gradually quelled the rioting. VWBC officials persuaded all participating countries to rejoin the tournament, and it is now underway once again.
The schedule has been revised, there will now be only two games played a day. All games that were originally scheduled from June 5 onward will be replayed. The new schedule has been edited into the original first round matchups below.

Results for first three days

VWBC
The results from the first three days of competition are in:
June 2:
(1) Germany 10 (16) Wales 2
(1) Mongolia 5 (16) China 0
(1) Chad 8 (16) Angola 6
(1) Australia 2 (16) Canada 0
June 3:
(8) Poland 7 (9) Latvia 3
(8) Saudi Aabia 7 (9) Turkey 3
(8) South Africa 0 (9) Morocco 3
(8) Greenland 4 (9) Domincan Republic 2
June 4:
(5) Italy 3 (12) Croatia 0
(5) Japan 2 (12) Qatar 5
(5) Madgascar 2 (12) Somalia 1
(5) USA 6 (12) Brazil 3

First Round Matchups

VWBC (if you don't know what this is read the below post)
The matchups for the 1st round have been announced, and they are: (seedings in parantheses)
Europe Region
Games to be played at London Stadium:
(1) Germany vs. (16) Wales June 2
(8) Poland vs. (9) Latvia June 3
(5) Italy vs. (12) Croatia June 4
(4) England vs. (13) Spain June 14
Games to be played at Princes Stadium in Vaduz, Liechtenstien:
(6) Hungary vs. (11) Ireland June 16
(3) Austria vs. (14) Liechtenstien June 18
(7) Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. (10) Greece June 20
(2) Scotland vs. (15) France June 22

Asia/Middle East Region (including a couple European teams)
Games to be played at Istanbul Arena in Turkey:
(1) Mongolia vs. (16) China June 2
(8) Saudi Arabia vs. (9) Turkey June 3
(5) Japan vs. (12) Qatar June 4
(4) Switzerland vs. (13) Thailand June 14
Games to be played at Foothills Stadium near Mt. Everest, Nepal:
(6) India vs. (11) Nepal June 16
(3) Indonesia vs. (14) Laos June 18
(7) Phillipines vs. (10) Denmark June 20
(2) Sweden vs. (15) Norway June 22

Africa Region
Games to be played at Tanindrazana Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar:
(1) Chad vs. (16) Angola June 2
(8) South Africa vs. (9) Morocco June 3
(5) Madagascar vs. (12) Somalia June 4
(4) Democratic Republic of the Congo vs. (13) Ethiopia
June 15
Games to be played at Freetown Stadium in Sierra Leone:
(6) Kenya vs. (11) Libya June 17
(3) Egypt vs. (14) Tanzania June 19
(7) Namibia vs. (10) Lesotho June 21
(2) Sierra Leone vs. (15) Ghana June 23

Americas/Islands Region
Games to be played at Fenway Park in Boston, USA:
(1) Australia vs. (16) Canada June 2
(8) Greenland vs. (9) Domincan Republic June 3
(5) U.S.A. vs. (12) Brazil June 4
(4) Argentina vs. (13) New Zealand June 15
Games to be played at Andes Stadium in Coquimbo, Chile:
(6) Mexico vs. (11) Guatemala June 17
(3) St. Lucia vs. (14) Venezuala June 19
(7) Chile vs. (10) Cuba June 21
(2) Jamaica vs. (15) Colombia June 23

Announcing: the Vertissimoto World Baseball Championshiops!!

Remember that umm... yeah post from the old days? scroll down and you'll find it. Well this is what was going to be there. It is the one, the only, the
Vertissimoto World Championship of Baseball!!

Ever since I was little, I've had this fascination with bracket tournaments, I don't know why. With the soccer world cup coming up, which is cool because it involves teams from all over the world in a bracket, this was revived. Since soccer is a horrible sport though, I figured that I would make my own world cup, but for a good sport! (baseball)
I chose baseball because I know a lot about it so I can give good descriptions of the games, and its the best I can think of without going into made-up sports.

So this is how its going to work: I have a bracket of the whole tournament on paper, but I can't get it on the computer so I'm just going to list the round's matches. They will be in order of the bracket, so the winner of each pair of games will play each other in the next round. Ever day (or as near to it as possible), I will "play " a few matches. The winners will be determined by a coin toss, but I'll think up stories for what happened in the games and post them like news stories, as if it were a real tournament! In the early rounds, low seeds (1-4) will have an advantage to simulate their skill, and they will only need to win 1 out of three coin tosses, while their opponents will need to win 2 out of 3.

Although this is baseball, throw out everything you know about what countries play it. In this tournament, I have made teams in countries that have scarcely heard of baseball heavy favorites in some cases, I make up rivalries randomly and stuff like that, its part of the fun!
The matchups for the first round will be in the next post. All posts pertaining to the tournament will have VWBC at the top, but other than that they will be written as though this were a real tournament.