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Callao posted a 100+ win season for the third time in four years, taking the Bolivar League South Division at 101-61. They finished six games better than second place Lima. Meanwhile, the North Division was a tight battle that saw Barquisimeto take first at 89-73. It is only the third-ever playoff berth for the Black Cats, who last made it to the postseason in 1943. Barquisimeto was only one game ahead of defending Bolivar League champ Caracas and five better than Maracaibo.

Mike Andrades won his second straight league MVP. The 27-year old Callao right fielder led the league in runs (121), hits (224), RBI (141), average (.357), slugging (.666), OPS (1.033), wRC+ (194), and WAR (9.3). The 141 RBI was a new single-season record for Beisbol Sudamerica. Pitcher of the Year went to Barquisimeto’s Julio Cigala. The 32-year old Venezuelan only led in complete games (18), posting a 5.2 WAR, 21-11 record, 2.52 ERA, and 249 strikeouts over 281.2 innings.



Sao Paulo won the Brazil Division for the fifth straight season and posted the best record in the Southern Cone League with a 105-57 record. Brasilia was next at 96-66 with Salvador at 94-68. In the South Division, Santiago snapped a four-year playoff drought by taking first at 94-68. Defending Copa Sudamerica champ Cordoba, who won 120 games the prior season, finished one game behind the Saints at 93-69.

League MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Sao Paulo’s Angel Souza. It is the second PotY for Souza and he’s the first non-two way pitcher to win MVP in the Southern Cone. The 27-year old tossed a Triple Crown season with a 27-4 record, 1.14 ERA, and 350 strikeouts, also leading the league in innings (291.2), quality starts (33), FIP- (52), and WAR (11.2). The 1.14 ERA is third-best all time in a Beisbol Sudamerica single season, only behind Timoteo Caruso’s 1.07 in 1946 and Mohammed Ramos’ 1.09 in 1939.

In the Bolivar League Championship Series, Callao defeated Barquisimeto in five games, giving the Cats their second league title in four years. In the Southern Cone Championship, Sao Paulo bested Santiago 4-1, also giving the Padres their second title in four years. It is their fourth league title. In a rematch of the 1954 Copa Sudamerica, the Cats again prevailed over the Padres; this time in a seven-game classic.





Other notes: Angel Gabriel Cornejo of Cordoba became the first BSA player to get to 3000 career hits. This would be his last season as a full-time starter, but Cornejo would play two more years, retiring at age 46 with 3253 hits. Cornejo also became the fourth BSA hitter to 1500 RBI. Diego Pena became the second to 1500 runs scored. R.J. Correa and Felipe Delgado became the sixth and seventh hitters to 2500 hits. Asuncion’s Adrian Calvo became the seventh BSA hitter to 500 career home runs. Lincoln Parra was the sixth pitcher to 250 career wins. In award notables, CF Loury Nova became a 12-time Gold Glove winner, joining SS Jamie Escoto as the only 12 time winners.