Hot Corners: Beginning of a Dynasty

by PRAKNASTY

After being unceremoniously fired from the Blowfish for reasons out of his control, Buck Wing was approached by the commissioner of the league to lead a new expansion team as it's manager. Making his choice, Buck must now take a team full of old and new players to the Promised Land and keep them from killing one another. Can he do it? Tune in to find out! #TheNastyOne

18. Its Go Time!

AN: FINALLY THE NASTY ONE HAS COME BACK TO FANFICTION!

Welcome back everyone to the Hot Corners Dynasty's final regular season chapter for year 2. Last chapter had the team go on a three game winning streak to move to a 7 – 5 record and draw within a half game of the division lead. The Freebooters come to town with the lead as they square off with our favorite Hot Corners to try and secure the division title. Can the Hot Corners counter them, or will they fall short just like earlier on in the season? Let's find out! Also, just an FYI the first game of the chapter against the Freebooters had its footage become corrupted so I lost all of the exact happenings, but I remembered the scoring plays and will highlight them. With that out of the way, let's get it on!

Chapter 18: It's Go Time!

== One Week Later (Game 13 vs. Freebooters) ==

The Freebooters had come to town for their last two regular season road games as this matchup would make the playoff picture clear. Depending on the games' outcomes there were three possible scenarios for the teams involved:

1. The Freebooters win both games would secure the division win, and be the number one seed in the playoffs as the other division winner would only be 8 – 8 at best. They could then afford to rest their starters in their final two games against the Moose.

2. The teams split, the Hot Corners would have the division lead but would still have two games left to play and win to secure the title as the Freebooters' fate would be decided against the Moose.

3. The Hot Corners sweep to take a 1.5 game lead in the division and need only one more win to secure the division title as the Freebooters would once again be at the mercy of the Moose.

A lot was riding on this game as the teams took the field and the game got underway with Kaiser going up against Freebooters third starter Faith Blaze in her second year with the team.

== Top of the 3rd ==

CF Stockton Brickhouse gave the Freebooters the early lead when he broke the scoreless tie on a two out RBI single into right field. (Freebooters lead 1 – 0)

== Bottom of the 5th ==

Blaze had been able to keep them off the scoreboard early on, but as she was tiring she got in trouble and left a breaking ball in the middle of the plate to Sportswood. He absolutely unloaded on it and drove it into the left field seats for his third of the season and he put the Hot Corners up 3 – 1.

== Top of the 7th ==

Kaiser gave up a solo homer to Brickhouse which was his second of the season as the Freebooters drew within a run. Kaiser did however manage to get out of a jam later in the inning to leave with the lead. Haze pitched a six out save as the Hot Corners took the Saturday night contest by a score of 3 – 2.

== End of Game 13 Summary ==

Hot Corners 3 – Freebooters 2

WP: Kaiser (3 – 1) LP: Blaze SV: Haze (2) POTG: Sportswood (Homerun)

Following the game, Manning got in a workout session with the use of a Beefcake Powder protein shake as he increased his velocity and junk, but lost some accuracy in his pitches as a side effect.

== 15 Hours Later (Game 14 vs. Freebooters) ==

It was time for a Sunday afternoon matchup as the teams came into this matchup looking to pick up where they left off the night before in the pitching matchup. Rookie southpaw Connor Frazier Jr. (1 – 2, 11.57 ERA, 2.71 WHIP) was coming off his best start of the season as he looked to continue trending upwards against the Freebooters who put up Winnie Noelle (5.40 ERA, 1.53 WHIP) to face him. Buck also inserted Digg Efforto into the lineup at third base as Lee was slumping once again at the plate.

== Top of the 1st ==

Brickhouse was batting the second spot of the Freebooters lineup again today as he continued his hot hitting from last night. Frazier tried to overpower him with a high and away fastball, but Brickhouse wasn't fooled.

CRACK!

The ball soared out to the short fence in right and cleared it with room to spare as it landed three rows deep in the seats. Brickhouse rounded the bases on his third home of the season as he made it an early 1 – 0 Freebooters lead as the crowd started to boo Frazier once again. He didn't let it faze him though as he set down the next two batters to get out of the inning.

== Bottom of the 1st ==

Seeing the resolve of their young pitcher, motivated the offense to answer right back against Noelle in the bottom half of the inning. Sportswood singled to left with one out as that put a runner on for Big Country who looked cool, calm, and collected up in the left handed batter's box. Those yoga classes had done wonders for his confidence and his focus as he spotted a cement mixer slider coming down the middle of the plate on the 1 – 0 delivery from Noelle.

THWACK!

He didn't waste his opportunity as he punished that pitch out to left center field as it crossed over the Freebooters bullpen for his third homerun of the season. That dinger made the fans overjoyed as they celebrated their team's 2 – 1 lead.

== Bottom of the 6th ==

Through the next four and a half innings, the starters dueled with one another. Frazier had only given up four hits through his six innings of work as the crowd was warming up to the rookie after he shut the opposing offense down. Noelle had only given up five hits so far in the game including the two hits back in the first inning.

Big Country led off the inning with an infield single as he managed to leg out the throw from shortstop. Jumps then single into the left center gap as Big Country turned the jets on and went to third on the hit as Brickhouse's throw was weak into the infield. Berko then came up in the clutch situation and came through for the team as he roped a liner into the left center gap that neither fielder could get to. Big Country scored easily from third, and Jumps hustled all the way around from first as he slid in under the catcher's tag to make it a 4 – 1 game after Berko's double.

LeBoink came up next and singled into left center as he continued the hit parade. He then purposefully got in a rundown between first and second as the distraction allowed Berko to score, but LeBoink was tagged out. The single made it a 5 – 1 game however, as the Hot Corners had busted the game wide open.

== Bottom of the 7th ==

Noelle retired the leadoff hitter in the inning but then Pickle got on via a single into left field. Sportswood then walked up and continued his hot hitting as he smoked a liner to the right center gap that got down and all the way to the wall. Pickle came around to score easily as the game was now 6 – 1 in favor of the Hot Corners.

== Top of the 8th ==

Frazier exited at the start of the eighth inning as he was over 85 pitches and had done his job as the crowd giving him a standing ovation as he walked off tipping his cap to them. He'd finally earned their respect. Rookie southpaw Kyson Manning, (2.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) entered from the bullpen as he looked to get the team through the last two innings. The eighth was a struggle for him as after retiring the leadoff hitter, he gave three consecutive singles to load the bases. Instead of getting flustered, he trusted Apollo's signs and got the next batter to ground in a double play (4 – 6 – 3) which ended the inning.

== Bottom of the 8th ==

Berko started the inning off by singling into left as that would spell the end of the day for Noelle as righty Grace Loopinovich (0.93 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) entered in relief. Berko ended up advancing to second on a fielder's choice, and James singled him home with two outs in the inning to make it a 7 – 1 score.

Manning came back out to pitch the ninth and threw a clean three up, three down inning as he shut the door on the weekend sweep.

== End of Game 14 Summary ==

Hot Corners 7 – Freebooters 1

WP: Frazier Jr. (2 – 2) LP: Noelle POTG: Swiner (Homerun and drove in a couple runs.)

Following the game, Pickle underwent surgery on his throwing arm as he had to relieve some pressure on his ligaments. Thankfully the team's next game wasn't for another week as he had enough time to heal and be back in the lineup.

The win moved the team to a 9 – 5 season record at they moved into first place, but only held a half game lead over the 9 – 6 Moose who won four games to move up in the division (beat the Freebooters twice, Moonstars once, and Herbisaurs once). The Freebooters four straight losses set them back to third place at 8 – 8 as they'd need some help to make the playoffs as the Wild Pigs had three games left and were in 4th place at 6 – 7.

== Six Days Later (Game 15 Moose) ==

The team made the trip to Sakura Hills as they were getting ready to take on the Moose for the final time in the regular season. Everything was riding on this game for both teams as a win by either team meant a spot atop of the division. If the Hot Corners won, they'd secure not only the number one seed in the playoffs, but also the division championship for the second straight year. If the Moose won, they would have the lead, and the Hot Corners would need to win their final game to take back the title as the Moose were already playoff bound.

Pitching this big game for both teams would be Pres (2 – 0, 3.32 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) for the Hot Corners, and Raul Strikes (1 – 1, 4.40 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) for the Moose. Oliver was back into the lineup behind the plate as he sat out the two games against the Freebooters to get rested up before the playoffs, and Lee was back in the lineup at third base.

== Top of the 1st ==

Strikes retired the leadoff hitter, Pickle, but then surrendered back-to-back singles to Sportswood and Big Country to put them on in front of Jumps. Strikes made the mistake to then hang a curveball in the middle of the zone as Jumps walloped it.

THWACK!

The ball quickly exited the park on a line as it crashed into the seventh row of the right field seats. Jumps' fourth homer of the season put the Hot Corners up early 3 – 0.

== Top of the 3rd ==

Pres got through the first two innings with ease as Strikes was having a much more difficult time. He battled through the second despite some hits, but then loaded the bases in the third with one out as the nine hitter, James, walked up to the plate. He grounded a ball softly to shortstop as the fielder barehanded it and retired the runner at second, but the relay to first was late as Berko scored from third to make it a 4 – 0 game on the fielder's choice.

== Top of the 5th ==

Pres was on cruise control on the mound as he pitched two more scoreless innings as Strikes came back out to the mound to hopefully get through the fifth at the very least. He retired Berko on a groundout to shortstop to start the inning, but then fell behind 1 – 0 in the count to LeBoink. Billy timed a high fastball and lined it back to the mound, as Strikes was unprepared to stop the screaming liner.

SMACK! THUD!

The liner hit Strikes in the throat near the right side of his collarbone as he was launched backwards off the mound as he landed behind it and on the right side of his body as he was grasping at his throat and struggling to breathe. LeBoink wasn't going to make it to first as the ball ricocheted to the second baseman who threw to first to retire the slow runner. The trainer came out as he quickly kneeled down and started trying to calm Strikes down as he needed to be calm for him to take a look at him. He stopped struggling after a moment as the trainer was able to massage his throat and allowed him the ability to breathe. He then helped Strikes up and led him down into the dugout tunnel so he could get some x-rays done to make sure there wasn't any severe damage done. SP/RP Felix Farmhand (5.93 ERA, 2.05 WHIP) entered and retired Oliver on a flyout to end the inning as the Moose looked to rally for their injured starter.

== Bottom of the 5th ==

DH Heronimus Jackson led off the inning against Pres by homering to right center field on a low two-seam fastball that didn't get off the plate on the two balls and two strikes count. The ball soared over the Hot Corners bullpen as the Moose shrunk the gap down to 4 – 1.

== Top of the 6th ==

Big Country came up with the bases loaded and one out against Farmhand as he hit a hard shot between third and shortstop. The third baseman dove and knocked the ball down as it ricocheted to the shortstop. The shortstop barehanded it and got it to second just in time to retire Sportswood. However, Lee scored on the play to get the lead back up to four runs as it was now 5 – 1 Hot Corners.

== Bottom of the 6th ==

Pres retired the first two batters in the inning, but then gave up a single to center off the bat of the speedy RF Irene Fast. 1B Perry Quaker then came through with a soft liner that landed right on the chalk in shallow right as nobody could get there in time. Quaker ended up at second with a double as Fast scored all the way from first to make it a 5 – 2 game.

== Bottom of the 7th ==

The Moose chipped away at the lead once more as LF Stallion Johnson doubled to the left center gap as 3B Macy Stone came all the way around from first with two outs in the inning as the lead was shrunk down to 5 – 3. Pres did manage to get out of the inning though as he was done for the day.

== Bottom of the 8th ==

Rookie Troy Harrison (1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP) entered the game in relief as he looked to pitch the six out save for his team. He gave up a leadoff hit, but erased it on a double play then struck out the next batter to end the inning with no big issues.

== Bottom of the 9th ==

Farmhand had kept the Hot Corners' lineup in check since the sixth and gave his team the opportunity to hang around and maybe win the game in the bottom half. SS Nacho Crisp started the inning with a double into the left field corner off of Harrison. Jackson then doubled to right center as LeBoink over ran the ball, but James' strong throw in held Crisp at third base. Harrison then got C Pedro Nixon to ground out to Jumps, but Crisp scored on the play to make it 5 – 4.

The manager for the moose then sent up C Anton Goodwood to pinch hit for Macy Stone. He managed to line a single back up the middle as Jackson scored from third to tie the game up at five as Harrison had blown the save. Goodwood got greedy though and tried to steal second base, but Oliver threw him out for the second out. Johnson worked a two out walk, but CF Jackie Slam grounded out to Pickle at short to end the inning. It would take extra innings to decide this contest.

== Top of the 10th ==

Farmhand was done after his four and a third innings of work as right handed closer Klaus D'Gayme (0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP) entered to try and hold the Hot Corners scoreless. Corner infielder Tarzan Woodburn entered the game to play third base for the pinch hitter, Goodwood.

LeBoink led off the inning with a flyout to shallow center as Slam made the catch easily for the first out. D'Gayme then gave up a single to left off of Oliver's bat to put the rookie on with one out. Lee then doubled to the right center gap as Oliver advanced to third as two runners were now in scoring position with only one out. James then flew out deep to left field as Oliver tagged up and scored on the sacrifice fly to put the Hot Corners up 6 – 5. Pickle then walked up and hit a shot to the right center gap that got down between both outfielders and rolled to the wall. Lee scored easily from second as Pickle slid into third with a two out triple as the lead grew to 7 – 5.

That would spell the end for D'Gayme, as lefty Charlie Best (1.93 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) entered to try and stifle the rally. He intentionally walked Sportswood as he was still the hottest hitter on the planet. This put runners on the corners for Big Country who looked to put the game out of reach. He singled a ball into right, as Pickle walked home and made it an 8 – 5 game. Jumps then grounded out to second base to end the inning.

== Bottom of the 10th ==

Lefty Joseph Broseph (5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) was summoned from the bullpen by Buck to try and nail down the save. He retired the first batter, but then gave up a single to the speedy Fast. Broseph didn't worry about her though as he struck out Quaker and Crisp to end the game as the team mobbed him on the mound as they celebrated their second consecutive division title, and another number one seed in the playoffs.

== End of Game 15 Summary ==

Hot Corners 8 – Moose 5

WP: Harrison (1 – 0) LP: D'Gayme (0 – 1) SV: Broseph (3) POTG: Swiner (5 – 6, 2 RBI, R)

The team left following the celebration as they were headed to their final game of the season against the Wild Pigs. Thankfully the pressure was no longer on the team as the win ended the division race. Looking around the league's website he saw that the Sirloins clinched the #2 seed by winning the Boss Division with an 8 – 8 record thanks to a run differential tiebreaker over the Moonstars and Sawteeth. The Moose were also confirmed to be the #3 seed as they finished at 9 – 7 on the season. The last spot would come down to the Freebooters or the Wild Pigs, as they both would win the run differential tiebreaker over the Moonstars and Sawteeth. The Wild Pigs needed to win all three of their remaining games to secure their spot in the playoffs, while the Freebooters needed them to lose twice to secure theirs.

Before the next game, Jumps revealed he would be starting a vegan diet to try and limber him up when he was in the field and seemed to be working as Buck noticed some improvements during the team's warm-up fielding session before the game. (+1 SPD, +5 FLD, +1 ARM)

== 12 Hours Later (Game 16 Wild Pigs) ==

On the mound for the Hot Corners in this afternoon regular season finale was Terrok Smith (2 – 1, 5.40 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) as he looked to finish back-to-back seasons with at least three wins in four starts. Opposing him would be the Wild Pigs' number two starter, righty Durbin Holmes (0 – 1, 4.26 ERA, 1.11WHIP) who eliminated the Hot Corners from the playoffs last season. Seeing as how the team wasn't playing for anything today, Buck started Stadkleef over Oliver at catcher to have his young starter fresh for the playoffs next weekend.

== Top of the 1st ==

The Hot Corners lineup started early as Sportswood reached base on a single to right center field with one out as that brought Big Country up. The second hottest hitter in the lineup came through once again as he drove a shot out to right center field on a hanging two strike curveball. The ball carried all the way over both bullpens as it was a two run homer for Big Country. It was his fourth of the season as the Hot Corners jumped out to a 2 – 0 lead.

Jumps was the next batter and he jumped on the second pitch hanging curveball as he drove it out into the right field concession stand. That made it back-to-back jacks as Jumps' fifth homer of the season made it a 3 – 0 game. Berko came up next and doubled into the right center gap to put a runner in scoring position. Two batters later, Lee delivered a two out base hit to left field as Berko beat the weak throw from Goyo to score and make it a 4 – 0 lead.

== Bottom of the 5th ==

Through the first four innings Terrok was cruising along haven given up just four hits. That was about to change as DH Wally Bacon doubled into the left center gap to start the inning. 3B Ralph Blue followed with a single to right field as Bacon advanced to third. RF Flash Evans then struck out swinging on a low and away curveball for the first out, but CF Mannon Moon delivered a base hit to left as Bacon scored to make it a 4 – 1 game. SS Snag Roper the doubled off the right center wall as both Blue and Moon scored to make it a 4 – 3 game. 1B Spanky Wagnerd then beat out an infield single when the liner kicked off Terrok's glove towards the third base line allowing Roper to advance to third on the play. C Earnie Blings continued the onslaught of hits as he singled back up the middle to bring Roper in and tie the game up at 4. The inning finally ended when LF Nance Tools lined into a double play at second base as Blings was caught off the first base bag.

== Top of the 6th ==

LeBoink led off the inning against Holmes with a soft lineout to second base. Lee came up next and singled into center field to put a runner on base as Holmes once again went into the stretch. James then singled to left center to put two runners on as that brought up Stadkleef batting last today.

SMACK! THUD!

Lars got a fastball and roped it back to the mound as Holmes had no time to react on it and it smacked him dead center of the forehead as he fell backwards off the mound clutching at his face. Lars beat out the recovery throw by the second baseman to load the bases as the wild Pigs' trainer came out with a towel to staunch the blood that was slowly dripping from Holmes' forehead. After wrapping it around him, he was helped to his feet and led into the dugout tunnel to the crowd's applause as he would need stitches, a CT scan, and concussion testing.

The Wild Pigs manager had no choice but go to the bullpen as he made the move for his ace reliever, southpaw Alana Lantana (5.40 ERA, 1.54 WHIP). She looked in to face leadoff hitter Pickle and got him to bounce in a double play to end the threat and keep the game tied.

== Bottom of the 6th ==

Terrok looked to keep the game tied for his team in the bottom half of the inning as he faced 2B Elvis Stanley first. The switch hitter struck out looking on a changeup that caught the low and outside corner of the zone for the first out. Bacon was the next batter and he was sitting on the fastball and roped one back up the middle. Terrok tried to get out of the way, but he was too slow.

CRACK! THUD!

The ball hit Terrok on the right side of his collarbone as the bone's cracking was heard all the way at the top of the stands as the crowd gasped in horror. Terrok fell over to the right side of the mound as he held onto his now limp throwing arm as Bacon made it to first base safely. Buck and the trainer hustled out there, but both of them knew it was bad as Terrok wasn't able to move his arm at all as it was limp. They escorted him off the mound and into the tunnel as he would be heading directly to the hospital to get x-rays taken.

Buck brought in righty Amazo Haze (2.38 ERA, 0.62 WHIP) to try and keep the game deadlocked. Haze promptly gave up a double to Blue which hit off the very top of the right field wall, but the good relay in held Bacon up at third. Haze then struck out both Evans and Moon to strand the runners as the team looked to break the tie next inning.

== Bottom of the 7th ==

The Hot Corners failed to do it in their half of the inning, but the Wild Pigs didn't. Wagnerd got a high fastball on the first pitch of his at-bat as he deposited it over the center field wall to break the tie on his seventh homer of the season. That would prove to be the proverbial dagger as both teams failed to score afterwards and the Wild Pigs edged out a victory 5 – 4.

== End of Game 16 Summary ==

Wild Pigs 5 – Hot Corners 4

WP: Lantana LP: Haze (0 – 2) POTG: Roper (3 – 4, 2B, 2RBI, R)

The team's record finished at 10 – 6 thanks to the loss, but they were already in the playoffs as the #1 seed so they weren't too bummed. The team even got some training in as Yu underwent some Cross Training which improved his offensive stats (+1 POW, +1 CON, +1 SPD), and James took a Gravy Gulp Shake before his next workout (-2 FLD, +13 ARM).

In playoff news, the Wild Pigs swept their last two games of the season against the last place Herbisaurs to enter the playoffs as the #4 seed. This left the Freebooters on the outside looking in and set up a playoff rematch against the Hot Corners. On the other side of the bracket, the Buzzards clinch the #1 seed at 11 – 5 as they beat out the Nemesis in a run differential tiebreaker. The Nemesis would be the #3 seed instead and the Jacks snuck into the playoffs as the #4 seed thanks to a sweep of the Overdogs. The #2 seed was previously won by the Grapplers.

Sportswood was crowned the batting champion after finishing with the top batting average of .516 and was also the leader in on base percentage at .556. Connor Frazier Jr. finished with the lowest walks per nine innings at 0.00, and Pres finished as the league leader in strikeouts per walk ratio at 15.00.

Buck received bad news from the hospital as Terrok's collarbone was completely shattered and he'd be unable to take part in the playoffs meaning he'd need to be released. He and Buck shared a heartfelt goodbye as the friends parted ways from the ER. Buck returned to his office as he decided to phone in his roster moves before the deadline in three hours.

Lefty SP Durn Wonderfloss formerly of the Moonstars was added to replace Terrok, 3B Keg Gutterson was added to replace the regressing Berko as the primary DH, CF Batch Wilson, another former Blowfish player, was added as the backup outfielder to replace the regressing LeBoink, and C Terra Lionerre was added to replace the slumping Stadkleef. Now the team had a rematch to look forward to as the Wild Pigs were coming to town for the first round of the playoffs just like in year one. It was time for some revenge.

AN: And that's a wrap on this chapter as the team wins three more games to finish off the season winning 6 of their last 7 games en route to their second consecutive division title and #1 seed in the playoffs. Now they have a rematch against their bane of last season, the Wild Pigs! Will the team dish out some much deserved revenge, or will they fall short again? Tune in to find out; I'll catch you in the next chapter everyone. Until then, this is "The Nasty One" signing off!

-PRAK #TheNastyOne