AN: FINALLY THE NASTY ONE HAS COME BACK TO FANFICTION!
Welcome back everybody to the next chapter here in the Hot Corners Dynasty; last chapter we reached the halfway point of the season as the team managed to tread water and remain at .500 finishing the first half with a 4 – 4 record. That is good enough to have them in second place of the division only 1.0 game back of the division leading Freebooters who sit at 5 – 3. Can the team come alive in the second half to take the division lead and run with it, or will they continue to middle along? Let's find out!
Chapter 17: Some Like It Hot
== Two Days Later (Game 9 Blowfish) ==
With Monday a scheduled travel day, the team used it to head over to Swagger Center to take on Buck's old team the Blowfish. He defeated them in year one and looked to remain undefeated against them as he was enjoying the little rivalry that had been generated by his release/firing two years prior due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic despite being 3 – 0 to start that year of play. It would be a duel of aces as Kaiser (2 – 0, 3.86 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) drew former Wild Pigs ace Wes Yogurt (0 – 2, 2.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) who was signed by the Blowfish in free agency. Yogurt of course had a good track record already against the team, shutting them out in one game last season and in the playoffs as well, though the bullpen lost that game for him. Big Country reentered the lineup to play left after his mindset was reset, and Oliver would get the start behind the plate to give Stadkleef the chance to rest. Buck was also informed that Harrison was absent from the complex and was at the hospital for something involving his throwing arm. Buck only hoped it was nothing serious as he knew he only had three relievers available for this game.
== Top of the 1st ==
The game started just at sunset as James led off the game with a flyout to right. Berko then reached base with a soft liner to right that dropped in front of the outfielder for a single. Sportswood followed that up with a single to center to put the pressure on Yogurt right out of the gate. The righty delivered a fastball to Jumps, who single to left as Berko came around to score and Sportswood advanced to third as the Hot Corners took an early 1 – 0 lead. Swiner drew a walk to load the bases as LeBoink walked up with a good chance to break the game open early. He got a fastball up into the air, but it didn't have enough carry to leave as the center fielder ran it down on the warning track for the second out. The deep fly was enough to score Sportswood though as the Hot Corners moved out to a 2 – 0 lead.
== Bottom of the 4th ==
The score remained the same until the fourth as both pitchers were in a groove. Kaiser retired the first batter he faced, but then gave up a double to right center field to the speedy second baseman Shayanne Hill to bring up LF Nirub Oowanga (pronounced Wanga, I've been pronouncing it wrong this whole time.) who wasn't known as being an RBI threat. He surprised everyone though with a base hit to the left center gap which easily score Hill to make it a 2 – 1 game.
== Top of the 6th ==
The score remained at 2 – 1 into the sixth as both pitchers once again went into lockdown mode and kept the offenses in check. Sportswood came to the plate for his third at-bat as he was looking to break Yogurt's concentration. He fell behind 0 – 1 in the count, before getting a changeup that was supposed to be down and in off the plate but hung on the middle third.
THWACK!
The ball was gone as soon as it left the bat as everyone turned to watch in land over the Hot Corners bullpen in left center field as Sportswood circled the bases and celebrated his first career dinger as a member of the Hot Corners. That bomb made it a 3 – 1 game as the team mobbed him as soon as he entered the dugout. It was the first time since joining the team that Sportswood didn't feel like a sellout like so many Sawteeth faithful had being calling him on social media.
== Bottom of the 6th ==
Kaiser ran into a bit of trouble in the sixth as he tried to hold the lead. He retired the leadoff batter, before Hill reached again on a single to right. He then retired Oowanga with a flyout, but gave up a single to CF Rod Forth as the lefty batter pulled the ball into right which allowed Hill to reach third. Forth was hustling down the line and stepped on the bag, before grabbing the back of his right leg in pain as he fell forward into the dirt in foul territory. The Blowfish trainer ran out to check on him as the crowd gasped in shock and surprise.
The replay came up, and everyone could see the moment he felt his hamstring go as he winced and reached back to grab the afflicted area. It was just another moment of bad luck for Forth who came into the game batting less than .100 on the season as it was, and then to finally get a hit just to get hurt was a sad irony. He was helped off the field with a noticeable limp, as backup CF Byron Harrison pinch ran following the injury.
Kaiser deliver a breaking ball in the dirt to the next batter, but it got away from Oliver and Hill raced home easily to make it a 3 – 2 game. Kaiser came back with a groundout though to end the inning there before things exploded.
== Bottom of the 7th ==
The Hot Corners failed to score in the top half of the inning as Yogurt remained in his groove as Kaiser came back out to start the inning with a pitch count already over 80. He gave up a leadoff infield single to former Hot Corner Nora Homes as he knocked it down but couldn't recover in time as the DH reached base without incident. That would end his day, as second year reliever Amazo Haze (2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP) entered the game to try and get out of the inning. He did his job as he forced 1B Jose Carloco to ground into a double play (4 – 6 – 3) and struck out rookie SS Trey Hardy swinging with a low changeup that almost made him come out of his shoes.
== Top of the 8th ==
Berko led off the inning for the Hot Corners with a single up the middle as that would spell the end of Yogurt's day as former Hot Corner reliever, southpaw Grump Everbright (3.24 ERA, 0.84 WHIP) came in to try and keep the game where it was. He gave up a single to the red hot Sportswood, but then set down the next three batters in order to get out of the jam.
== Bottom of the 8th ==
Haze came back out for the eighth as he looked to get the team to the ninth inning and possibly even pick up the save himself in an extremely rare nine out performance. His first batter of the inning was rookie 3B Parker Padilla who was signed by the Blowfish in free agency to be their new utility player. He was in RF earlier, but moved to his natural position of third when Harrison entered the game to play RF and shifted Ricky Quan over to CF. Haze got ahead 0 – 2 in the count and looked to put him away with a slider away, but ended up having it spin to the top of the zone as Padilla unloaded on it.
CRACK!
The switch hitter pulled that pitch into the right field seats as the crowd exploded when they heard the sound of the bat. The ball landed five rows deep up on the high wall out there Padilla circled the bases on his second round-tripper of the season and tied the game up at 3 – 3. Haze was disappointed in himself after that and you could see him distracted out there on the mound. It became blatantly obvious to everyone though as he got Hill to roll over on a pitch to first as Sportswood fielded it and flipped it to Haze who was racing to cover the bag. He however couldn't glove it and the ball bounced away into foul territory as Hill broke for second and got in under the tag from Pickle as she reached on the error by Haze.
Hill then promptly stole third base on the first pitch to pinch hitter Sting McGee as she was now only ninety feet away from giving the Blowfish the lead. Haze tried to focus on the batter but ended up worrying about Hill too much as he airmailed a fastball over Oliver's head as he tipped it with his glove but couldn't snag it. Hill made a beeline to the plate and dove in headfirst under Haze's tag as she scored on the wild pitch to give the Blowfish a 4 – 3 lead.
Haze then got out of the inning without further incident but the damage was done as the team only managed a one out double off the bat of Pickle in the top half of the ninth. Everbright successfully slammed the door to pick up the victory as the team was left only with the thoughts of "What if?"
== End of Game 9 Summary ==
Blowfish 4 – Hot Corners 3
WP: Everbright LP: Haze (0 – 1) POTG: Sportswood (3 – 4, HR, RBI, 2R)
The loss put the team down to 4 – 5 on the year as they fell to third in the division as the Moose picked up a win, but the Wild Pigs lost so they stayed behind them in 4th place. The next day was a travel day as the team headed to El Viejo Stadium to take on the Sawteeth as Buck got a notification that 3B Keg Gutterson had been released by the Moose to bring in Macy Stone as they needed to shed some salary from their payroll. Buck made sure to file this info away for later as Keg was a funny person to be around, and his numbers this year were outstanding as he was second in batting average, and first in on base percentage making his release a complete question mark.
Upon arrival to the complex, Buck was informed that rookie reliever Harrison had to undergo ligament repair, (+4 JNK), following his last outing which explained his absence from the team for the last game. The trainer said he'd be good to go by the weekend so Buck was down to only two reliever options for the next game, Broseph and Manning.
== The Following Day (Game 10 Sawteeth) ==
The team came back out looking for revenge not only for last game, but also for the shellacking they took at the hands of the Sawteeth in year one at this very same ballpark. Rookie southpaw Connor Frazier Jr. (0 – 2, 20.57 ERA, 4.00 WHIP) was coming off his worst outing of the season so far as he gave up nine earned runs in only 3.0+ innings off work against the Moose, as he would be slated to face Sawteeth ace Thrash Allmeyer (1 – 1, 5.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) who had an up and down year so far. Buck penciled in Stadkleef behind the plate to replace the slumping Oliver, as James moved from the leadoff spot to the nine hole and Pickle jumped up to the leadoff spot in his stead.
== Bottom of the 1st ==
The team went scoreless in the top half as Frazier Jr. came out for his first inning of work and was greeted by a whole bunch of jeering Sawteeth fans that were looking to break his confidence before he even threw a pitch.
"OVERRATED!" CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! "OVERRATED!" was the chant from the crowd as Frazier started to shrink back into his shell as the crowd's cheers were deafening. He even glanced up to the area behind home plate under the broadcaster's booth, and saw a sign of him hanging from a noose off the front of the seat box with a bucket on his head.
Seeing what was up, Stadkleef called time and went out there as the crowd celebrated their feat like the morons they were.
"Connor what's wrong?" asked the Lars as he noticed the lost look in the rookie's eyes.
"Maybe they're right Lars. I really am an overrated bust." he said in a depressed tone as he hung his head as Lars looked on in sadness. He quickly perked up though and tried cheering him up.
"You aren't overrated, you just haven't adjusted to the league yet." said Lars in a perked up voice, but Frazier wasn't buying it.
"Yeah right, I'm just worthless to this organization. They'd be better off if they cut me…" he trailed off as Lars grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look into his eyes.
"You're not worthless! You are valuable to this team if they wanted you gone you'd be gone already! Look at me, I was released last year at the end of the year and missed the playoffs, but Buck wanted me back to tutor Apollo and provide some veteran leadership to this team." he said as Connor was shocked but listening along intently.
"Keep wallowing in your misery and you won't be valuable any longer. I've gotten a second/third chance I never thought I'd get and I'm making the most of it. You better do the same rookie!" said Lars as he released Frazier's shoulders and punched him in his throwing arm.
"Now lighten up and let's show these morons what you got! Jah!" exclaimed the German-born catcher as he ran back to the plate to start the game as Frazier rubbed his sore arm with his free hand.
'Damn he hits hard! Maybe he's right; I do have some use here. If he can still be positive after being released and resigned then so can I!' thought Connor with determination as he stepped on the rubber with a glare.
Up in the stands, Connor Sr. looked on with pride as he saw the first signs of life in his son since his second outing. He smiled as he knew the other team was in trouble when he got in this kind of mood.
'Watch out assholes, my son's about to make your team his bitch!'
== Top of the 4th ==
That was exactly what Connor Jr. did as he kept the Sawteeth off the board in the first three innings; unfortunately Allmeyer did the same to the Hot Corners as the game was scoreless entering the fourth inning. Berko was retired via ground out to start the inning, but Sportswood reached base on an infield single when the second baseman dove but couldn't hang on to it.
Jumps came to the plate to get the team on the board and he did when Allmeyer hung a curveball right down the middle as he clobbered it.
THWACK!
The ball carried into the right field seats as Jumps circled the bases on his third homer of the season to put the team up 2 – 0 after only mustering one hit against Allmeyer in the previous three innings.
== Bottom of the 4th ==
The Sawteeth answered right back though, as Frazier Jr. retired the first two batters of the inning but then gave up an IF single to SS Jon Ronero off of Jumps' diving glove, and a single to center field off the bat of C Junior Young Sr.. That brought Sr.'s son 1B Junior YoungJr., (yes I'm not making these names up.) to the plate as he clobbered a double into the right field corner. This allowed Ronero and his father to come into score as he tied the game back up at 2 – 2 but Frazier Jr. managed to get out of the inning before he surrendered the lead.
== Top of the 5th ==
Allmeyer looked to put up another zero, but the team wasn't allowing that to happen after the first batter was retired. James singled into right to start the rally, before Pickle grounded sharply to first. Young Jr. threw the ball to second to try and retire James, but the ball bounced out of Ronero's glove for an error as both runners reached safely. Berko then struck out swinging on a low fastball, as Sportswood walked up in the clutch situation.
He was the last person Allmeyer wanted to see right now as Sportswood was the hottest batter in the Hot Corners lineup, and probably in the whole conference as he started off the season batting less than .100 but was on a tear the last five games to raise that up to near .300. Allmeyer tried to pitch him smart, but Sportswood read him like a book and single a breaking ball back up the middle as James came around to score and put the Hot Corners up 3 – 2.
== Top of the 8th ==
The Sawteeth had no answer for Frazier Jr. through the next three innings as he was keeping them guessing the entire way through. Allmeyer likewise had kept things locked down as he was waiting for his offense to give him some run support. He retired the first two batters of the inning, but then gave up a double into the right field corner off of Jumps' bat as he was in scoring position for Big Country.
Big Country laced a single back up the middle as Jumps came around to score easily and extended the lead to 4 – 2. LeBoink extended the inning by drawing a five pitch walk as Buck decided to pinch hit for the slumping Lee with rookie outfielder Arms Yu. Yu took a pitch for a ride to deep center, but the park was big enough to hold it as the centerfielder made the catch on the warning track for the final out of the inning.
== Bottom of the 8th ==
Buck made some changes in the eighth as he moved Yu to right and subbed in IF Digg Efforto to replace LeBoink as he'd play 3B. Buck also went to the bullpen as Frazier Jr. was over 80 pitches and wasn't able to continue on as he'd done enough to earn a win. Coming in was second year southpaw Joseph Broseph (0 – 1, 7.71 ERA, 1.71 WHIP) who needed a good outing after blowing game seven to the Wild Pigs. Rumor around the team was he was in danger of being released, but Buck denied all of them as he didn't want Broseph distracted by them moving forward. Broseph came in and pitched a clean three up, three down inning as he kept the team up by two heading to the ninth.
== Top of the 9th ==
Allmeyer continues working into the ninth as he fought tooth and nail to keep his team in the game. He retired the first two batters, but gave up a single to center off Pickle's bat which ended his day as southpaw reliever Doc Simpleman (1.59 ERA, 2.12 WHIP) entered to hopefully record the last out and send his team to bat. That wasn't the case though as he hung a cement mixer slider over the middle to Berko who unloaded on it.
THWACK!
The ball landed in the right center bleachers for Berko's third homer of the season as he made it a 6 – 2 game. Things only got worse as Sportswood singled to center to extend the inning and Jumps came up to rope a double into the left center gap as Sportswood hustled all the way home to make it a 7 – 2 game. Simpleman finally recorded the last out, but he'd blown any hope of a comeback as Broseph kept his momentum from last inning and pitched another three up, three down inning to secure the victory as he nailed down his second save of the season.
== End of Game 10 Summary ==
Hot Corners 7 – Sawteeth 2
WP: Frazier Jr. (1 – 2) LP: Allmeyer (1 – 2) SV: Broseph (2) POTG: Jumps (3 – 5, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2R)
The win put the team back up to .500 but they remained stuck in third place at 1.5 games back of the division lead as the Freebooters split against the Herbisaurs, 1 – 1, and the Moose won their next game. The team traveled back home as they had a weekend series against the Herbisaurs as they looked to gain some ground on the teams ahead of them.
Buck received some good news as Harrison was cleared to return to action if needed for either game which was a huge relief as the bullpen would be back to full strength. He also gave out some player development opportunities as Haze received a bullpen session to improve his velocity (+2), and Manning got to sign an endorsement contract with New Balance sporting their newly developed cleats. This really motivated and honored Manning as he thought they'd go to one of the better rated pitchers over him (+3 VEL, -2 JNK, +4 ACC).
== Three Days Later (Game 11 vs. Herbisaurs) ==
Pres was taking the ball here in the first game of the weekend series, the rookie was coming off a bad outing, but had managed to avoid taking the loss as he entered at 1 – 0, with a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He drew the Herbisaurs' fourth starter the lazy flamethrower Olaff Slakov who entered with no record, but had a 9.72 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Oliver was inserted back into the lineup by Buck to replace Stadkleef as he was ready to get back on track this game.
== Top of the 1st ==
Leading off for the Herbisaurs was the team captain, 3B Henry Hampster who was playing this game hurt having tweaked his hamstring a few games earlier. He was advised not to play so soon, but he wanted to go out there and set a good example for his team which was slumping in last place with a losing record for the second consecutive year. He singled into left off Pres but he came up lame halfway down the line and sat down once he reached first base and was pulling at his hurt left hamstring. The trainer came out and said he'd have to exit and practically carried him off the field as backup catcher Nate Hanky pinch ran for him.
Hanky was erased on a fielder's choice by rookie LF Maximus Tran, but Tran made up for it by stealing second and third on back to back pitches. Newly acquired RF Herra O'Wuggliems drove him in with a double to left as the Herbisaurs claimed a 1 – 0 lead. Hanky remained in the game at first base, as Grunt Manly moved over to play third for the injured Hampster.
== Bottom of the 2nd ==
The Hot Corners lineup was delayed in their response to the early deficit, but they managed to even things up in the second when Big Country delivered his first homer as a Hot Corner to the right field seats as he crushed a Slakov four-seam fastball to make it 1 – 1.
== Bottom of the 3rd ==
Pres held the Herbisaurs scoreless in the third as the offense looked to give him a lead to work with. Slakov started the inning with a strikeout to Lee, but he gripped his pitching hand with a slight wince as the trainer came out to check on him. He was pointing at the his middle finger and the trainer saw a giant blister forming on his top digit that was full with liquid and blood. He advised Slakov to exit, but Olaff shook him off and remained adamant in being able to stay out there so the trainer shrugged and left as Slakov finished the inning with no issues.
== Bottom of the 4th ==
Pres pitched another scoreless inning as the team came up to face Slakov once more. He got Berko to flyout to center easily on a low slider, but he gripped his hand in pain as blood was coming out of his middle finger. He'd ruptured his blister and the trainer came out and pulled him off the mound by his right ear as he followed along with a few "OW!"'s thrown in here and there. Entering to relieve him was newly acquired southpaw reliever Shay Dee (0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) formerly of the Sirloins. She shut down the next two batters to keep it a tie game.
== Bottom of the 5th ==
The Hot Corners persistence finally paid off as Oliver lead off the inning with a double into the right field corner as it snuck under O'Wuggliems' glove. He advanced to third on a fielder's choice before scoring on James' sac fly to center to give the Hot Corners a 2 – 1 lead.
== Bottom of the 7th ==
Pres continued to pitch well as he shut down the Herbisaurs' lineup once again in the seventh for a sixth consecutive scoreless inning. Dee came back out in the seventh as she fell behind 2 – 1 in the count to Big Country before serving up a hanging curveball in his happy zone.
THWACK!
That ball wasn't coming back anytime soon as it landed in the right field seats for Big Country's second of the game. He trotted around the bases and scored to make it a 3 – 1 Hot Corners lead.
== Top of the 8th ==
Pres started the inning, but missed with four straight pitches to C Fiona Clark to put her on as Buck decided it was time to make a move. He brought in the rookie southpaw Kyson Manning (3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) to go for the six out save sporting his new cleats courtesy of the New Balance contract.
Kyson got Hanky to ground the first pitch back to him which he turned into a double play (1 – 6 – 3), then gave up a single to Tran. Tran then stole second base (his third of the game) but Manning got Manly to ground out to Sportswood unassisted to end the inning.\He then came back out in the ninth and slammed the door shut for his first career save after pitching a three up, three down inning.
== End of Game 11 Summary ==
Hot Corners 3 – Herbisaurs 1
WP: Pres (2 – 0) LP: Dee (0 – 1) SV: Manning (1) POTG: Big Country (2 HR, enough said).
With the win, the team improved to 6 – 5 and entered a tie for second place at only 1.0 game back of the Freebooters. The team would look to sweep the weekend and season series tomorrow against the Herbisaurs. Before the team left the complex, Buck pulled Lars aside and got him some Plyometrics training as he felt limbered up afterwards. (+5 SPD)
== The Next Day (Game 12 vs. Herbisaurs) ==
Terrok Smith (1 – 1, 7.15 ERA, 2.12 WHIP) was on the hill for the Hot Corners as they looked to complete the series and season sweep of the Herbisaurs. Looking to prevent that from happening, the Herbisaurs countered with their ace Gem Qualita (1 – 2, 8.04 ERA, 1.72 WHIP) who the Hot Corners had already defeated once this season. Arms Yu got the start in right to replace the slumping LeBoink, as Buck looked to get him out of his own head at the plate.
== Top of the 3rd ==
The game was scoreless until the top of the third where the Herbisaurs broke through against Terrok. He left an fastball up and in to nine hitter C Fiona Clark who promptly turned on it and roped it into the left center seats for her second homer of the season as the Herbisaurs grabbed a 1 – 0 lead.
== Bottom of the 3rd ==
The Hot Corners answered back immediately, as Qualita gave up a leadoff double into the right field corner to the speedy James. Pickle then came through with a single to center as James came into score and tie the game up at 1. Berko then grounded into a double play to clear the bases as Sportswood came to bat. The resurgent first baseman unloaded on a first pitch fastball left on the inner third of the plate.
THWACK!
The crowd roared to life as Dirk circled the bases on his second homer of the season as the team now led 2 – 1.
== Top of the 7th ==
The game remained this way until the seventh as both pitchers started to duel one another. To this point in the game, Smith had given up seven hits while Qualita had only given up five. Smith retired the leadoff batter, before 2B Annabella Stokes hit a shot towards the right field corner, Yu went over and dove for the ball. He unfortunately miscalculated the dive and the ball soared out of his reach and into the corner as the speedy Stokes turned that into a triple. SS Milo Stewart then singled into right center field as Stokes walked home to tie the game up at 2. Smith bounced back though as he got Clark to hit into an inning ending double play.
== Bottom of the 7th ==
Qualita was back on the mound in the seventh as she looked to keep the game tied for her club. She retired the first two batters fairly easily, but gave up back-to-back singles to James and Pickle as they knocked her out of the game. Right handed reliever Adan Jock (7.94 ERA, 2.12 WHIP) was summoned to hold the door shut as the Hot Corners were starting to force it open. He promptly walked Berko on four bad misses as the bases were loaded for the absolutely scorching hot Dirk Sportswood. He walked to the plate giving off an aura of supreme confidence as the crowd started cheering him on.
Their cheers were well warranted as he fisted a sinking liner into shallow center as both Stewart and Stokes gave chase. Stewart laid out for it, but he couldn't quite reach it as the ball dropped harmlessly to the grass. The single drove in two as James and Pickle both scored to make it a 4 – 2 game. Jock rebounded to retire Jumps as he got him to pop up to the mound.
== Bottom of the 8th ==
Buck made the move to the bullpen to start the inning now that Smith was on for the win as he called for a righty. Entering the game was rookie Troy Harrison (1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) as he looked to pitch his way to a six out save on his newly repaired throwing shoulder. He started it off right with a three up, three down inning as he hardly broke a sweat. He gave up a single in the ninth, but succeeded in slamming the door as he slammed it tightly shut to give his club the sweep.
== End of Game 12 Summary ==
Hot Corners 4 – Herbisaurs 2
WP: Smith (2 – 1) LP: Qualita (1 – 3) SV: Harrison (2) POTG: Sportswood (game-winning hit and a homer to boot.)
The win moved the team up a half game as the Freebooters were once again off making them only a half game back with four to play. Buck set up a training session after the game as Big Country underwent a Meditation session with Sportswood's guidance. The session did wonders for his chi as he was feeling laser focused and calm about everything that had happened so far in the season. (+2 CON, +1 FLD)
The team had a weak off to prepare afterwards though as the next weekend would be a series against the Freebooters to settle the division lead question once and for all. All eyes would be set here as the team's playoff fate hung in the balance.
AN: And that's a wrap on this chapter, the team manages to rattle off a three game winning streak to move their record above .500 at 7 – 5. With four games left and two against the division leading Freebooters, can the team clinch their second straight division title and/or playoff berth? Tune in next time to find out as the last four regular season games all mean something! Catch in the next chapter, this is "The Nasty One" signing off!
-PRAK #TheNastyOne