Scottish Scoops: 29.014 "June 4-10 Flashback"

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Scottish Scoops: 29.014 "June 4-10 Flashback"

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Claymores Flashback: June 4-10, 2029

By Hamish Campbell
The Edinburgh News
June 11, 2029

Scotland gave off mixed signals in the days leading into and out of the PEBA amateur draft, dropping a home series 2-1 to Arlington but then taking out their frustrations on hapless Manchester for a 3-1 series victory.

By the end of the week, the Claymores had clawed their way back into second place in the Trans Atlantic Division, sitting 4.5 games behind Havana … and wondering just how they’re going to catch up.



“The Leones look formidable, that is certain,” said Manager Hayato Sasaki. “Their pitching is excellent – tops in the Imperial League – and their offense is not to be dismissed. It is a balance that is hard to top. And yet, top it we must.”

Easier said than done, of course.

The Scottish, of course, have nothing to be embarrassed about at the plate: they rank in the top 3 in virtually every offensive category and lead in 8. Their pitching, though, is up and down the scale. While they rank third in starters’ ERA (3.38), the bullpen is 11th (4.00).

“It is true that we need to find our balance,” Sasaki said, “if we are to challenge the Leones for the division title. I am confident that this is within our powers, though.

“I would just remind everyone that last season, at the end of May, the Claymores were 10 games under .500 and in last place in the division. We are considerably ahead of that pace. So, we have work to do, but we are not without hope.”

Scotland, of course, caught fire in the second half of last season, and finished with a club record 96 wins and an Imperial League Wild Card spot.

Still, the division is stronger this season than last, and part of Scotland’s second-half drive in 2028 was due to the arrival of slugger Don Mercer, who left via free agency and now plays for arch-rival West Virginia.

Will the Claymores find a second half savior this season? Unknown, of course.

What is known is that the balance of June will pose a stiff test for the boys in blue: the Scottish will welcome the Alleghenies to the Castle for a 3 game series this week, then host Dixie Division leader Florida for a 3-game set. The rest of the month will feature more games against the Featherheads and two series against a tough Kentucky ballclub.

This week should tell us much about the mettle of this season’s edition of the Claymores. Fasten your seatbelts – it could be a bumpy ride!

Top Hitter










Naomi Honma, SS: .484/.515/.645 1 2B, 2 3B, 7 RBIs, 1 SB, 1.2 WAR

Top Pitcher










Clark Snow, SP: 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1 G, 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks, 2, BB, 0.3 WAR

Top Game

The June 8 game against Manchester featured a Claymores offensive tsunami: 15 runs and 19 hits. The final score: Scotland 15, Manchester 3. DH Vincent Powell and 1B Orlando Barrón each had three hits, with Powell chipping in two homers and 4 RBIs as part of his output. One of those long balls came against former Scottish reliever Tomás Moya, who made a habit of giving up home runs at the Castle last season. Scottish SP Carlos Pérez barely broke a sweat in picking up his 7th win of the year.

News and Notes

The Scottish didn’t make much of splash in the June 7 amateur draft, given that they had no selections until the 5th round. Their two top picks were slick-fielding shortstop Hunter Greene, an 18-year-old high school player out of New York City, and Flawiusz Budrewicz, a catcher with a rocket arm out of Poland. Both remained unsigned at press time … Rumor has it that the front office is starting to look at the possibility for extensions to some of the Claymores whose contracts will expire at the end of the season. Among the more notable: 1B Orlando Barrón; SP Francisco Robles; 3B Bob Swift; DH Yosuke Imai; LF José Guillén; SP Allen Guthrie; and SP Roger Keller. Serious consideration, it’s said, is being given to Guillén and Barrón, who both figure to command high price tags. Guthrie, Keller and Robles may also get a look, depending on their demands.

IL Trans Atlantic Division Standings
As of the morning of June 11

|Team...........|W | L | W % |GB |RD |
|Havana|.......|41|21|.661| -- |+58|
|Scotland|.....|36|25|.590| 4.5|+77|
|San Juan......|36|26|.581| 5.0|+09|
|Amsterdam..|31|31|.500|10.0|-08|
|London........|27|34|.443|13.5|-39|

Fresh From the Farm

AAA Aberdeen went 2-4 in the run-up to this week’s Global Baseball Brotherhood All-Star game. The Golden Sands now sit at 32-31 in first place in the AML Europe and Islands Division by 1.5 games over second place Santo Domingo … Aberdeen was 14th (out of 28 teams) in the most recent GBB power rankings … AA Inverness had a strong week, posting a 5-1 record with series wins over Den Bosch and Beaufort. The Highlanders are now 38-24 on the season, in third place in the competitive ATAL Euro-Caribbean Division. They’re 2.5 games behind first place Port au Prince and just a half-game behind second place Liverpool … SP António Aguilar has been on fire for Inverness, allowing no runs in either of his last two starts. He’s 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 7 Ks over 14.1 IP … Single A Govan put together a 4-2 week to raise its season record to 23-28, good for fourth place and 13.5 games behind first place Utrecht … 2B Yasutake Oka had a strong week, going 6-21 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs, and a .286 BA … Short Season A Maui will start its first season in Hawaii on Thursday as it hosts Aurora’s Short A affiliate, Mokul’ia Oceanic, in a 3 game series.
Vic Caleca
Scottish Claymores
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