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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-20-2024, 09:43 AM

Four teams battled intensely for the three playoff spots in WAB’s Western League in 1997. Nouakchott took first at 98-64 to get back to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Freetown was one behind at 97-65, taking second for back-to-back seasons. The third spot saw a tie between defending West African Baseball champion Accra and Abidjan, both at 95-67. In a one-game tiebreaker, the Alligators prevailed to extend their playoff streak to three seasons. The Athletes had their own streak ended at five.

Western League MVP went to Nouakchott third baseman Yakubu Odiye. The 28-year old Nigerian led in wRC+ (172) and added 7.9 WAR, 208 hits, 29 home runs, and a .350/.392/.574 slash. Accra’s Antonio Akinyemi secured Pitcher of the Year, surprising many. He had a 2.36 ERA, 258 strikeouts, and 11-9 record over 224.2 innings with 4.4 WAR. Akinyemi did lead in complete games with 24.

In the wild card round, Freetown topped Accra 2-0 to oust the reigning champs. The Foresters earned back-to-back Western League Championship Series berths, while Nouakchott hadn’t been there since taking their lone title in 1984. The WLCS went all five games as the Night Riders edged Freetown to take the crown.

Kano clobbered the competition in the Eastern League at an impressive 111-51. It was the third straight playoff berth for the Condors, but their first time taking the top spot in the standings since 1984. 15 games separated them from second place Lagos at 96-66, who ended a two-year playoff drought. Ibadan was third at 91-71 to extend the Iguanas playoff streak to eight seasons, the longest active streak in WAB. Port Harcourt’s bid for nine in-a-row was thwarted with the Hillcats falling to a sixth place 77-85.

Kano shortstop Darwin Morris won his third Eastern League MVP in four seasons. He posted an incredible 14.7 WAR, the second most ever in a WAB season behind his own 15.1 from two years prior. The 25-year old Liberian also broke his own runs scored record from 1995 (142), coming home 146 times in 1997. Morris also led the league in home runs (59), RBI (129), total bases (421), stolen bases (82), OBP (.432), slugging (.761), OPS (1.194), and wRC+ (231). His .354 batting average was three points shy of a Triple Crown.

Pitcher of the Year went to Kano’s Pomeyie Mensah, his second in three years. It was a record-setting campaign for the 28-year old Ghanaian lefty, who broke the WAB single-season ERA record at 1.32. That and his opponent’s slugging percentage of .248 remain WAB records as of 2037. This great season also featured WAB’s 11th perfect game, as Mensah struck out 11 against Port Harcourt on May 6. Mensah also led in wins (24-7), WHIP (0.79), FIP- (50), and WAR (9.6). He struck out 322 over 237 innings.

In the wild card round, Lagos edged Ibadan 2-1. For the Lizards, this was their first Eastern League Championship Series since 1994. Kano was entering their third straight, having fallen in the prior two. The Condors got over that hump, besting Lagos 3-1. It was the fifth EL pennant for Kano (1975, 76, 84, 86, 97).

The 23rd West African Championship was the second time that Kano and Nouakchott had met for the title. Back in 1984, the Night Riders won their only title over the Condors. Kano claimed revenge in 1997 and won the series 4-2. DH Revelation Maseko was finals MVP with the 30-year old South African proving a key addition. The Condors had signed him to a seven-year, $10,740,000 deal following a solid prior run with Port Harcourt. In 10 playoff starts, Maseko had 17 hits, 4 runs, 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 5 RBI.

It was the Condors’ fourth WAB ring (1975, 76, 86). Kano made WAB history as the winningest team to take the title at 111-51, beating the previous high mark of 110-52 by Ibadan in 1993. This would mark the beginning of a prolific decade of dominance for the Condors.

Other notes: Abidjan’s Benedict Collins broke his own single season stolen base record of 136, swiping 139 bags in 1997. This remains the WAB record as of 2037. SS Jorginho Fonseca won his eighth Gold Glove and LF Jake Pourchet won his seventh.

03-20-2024, 09:43 AM	#1078
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,883	1997 in WAB Four teams battled intensely for the three playoff spots in WAB’s Western League in 1997. Nouakchott took first at 98-64 to get back to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Freetown was one behind at 97-65, taking second for back-to-back seasons. The third spot saw a tie between defending West African Baseball champion Accra and Abidjan, both at 95-67. In a one-game tiebreaker, the Alligators prevailed to extend their playoff streak to three seasons. The Athletes had their own streak ended at five. Western League MVP went to Nouakchott third baseman Yakubu Odiye. The 28-year old Nigerian led in wRC+ (172) and added 7.9 WAR, 208 hits, 29 home runs, and a .350/.392/.574 slash. Accra’s Antonio Akinyemi secured Pitcher of the Year, surprising many. He had a 2.36 ERA, 258 strikeouts, and 11-9 record over 224.2 innings with 4.4 WAR. Akinyemi did lead in complete games with 24. In the wild card round, Freetown topped Accra 2-0 to oust the reigning champs. The Foresters earned back-to-back Western League Championship Series berths, while Nouakchott hadn’t been there since taking their lone title in 1984. The WLCS went all five games as the Night Riders edged Freetown to take the crown. Kano clobbered the competition in the Eastern League at an impressive 111-51. It was the third straight playoff berth for the Condors, but their first time taking the top spot in the standings since 1984. 15 games separated them from second place Lagos at 96-66, who ended a two-year playoff drought. Ibadan was third at 91-71 to extend the Iguanas playoff streak to eight seasons, the longest active streak in WAB. Port Harcourt’s bid for nine in-a-row was thwarted with the Hillcats falling to a sixth place 77-85. Kano shortstop Darwin Morris won his third Eastern League MVP in four seasons. He posted an incredible 14.7 WAR, the second most ever in a WAB season behind his own 15.1 from two years prior. The 25-year old Liberian also broke his own runs scored record from 1995 (142), coming home 146 times in 1997. Morris also led the league in home runs (59), RBI (129), total bases (421), stolen bases (82), OBP (.432), slugging (.761), OPS (1.194), and wRC+ (231). His .354 batting average was three points shy of a Triple Crown. Pitcher of the Year went to Kano’s Pomeyie Mensah, his second in three years. It was a record-setting campaign for the 28-year old Ghanaian lefty, who broke the WAB single-season ERA record at 1.32. That and his opponent’s slugging percentage of .248 remain WAB records as of 2037. This great season also featured WAB’s 11th perfect game, as Mensah struck out 11 against Port Harcourt on May 6. Mensah also led in wins (24-7), WHIP (0.79), FIP- (50), and WAR (9.6). He struck out 322 over 237 innings. In the wild card round, Lagos edged Ibadan 2-1. For the Lizards, this was their first Eastern League Championship Series since 1994. Kano was entering their third straight, having fallen in the prior two. The Condors got over that hump, besting Lagos 3-1. It was the fifth EL pennant for Kano (1975, 76, 84, 86, 97). The 23rd West African Championship was the second time that Kano and Nouakchott had met for the title. Back in 1984, the Night Riders won their only title over the Condors. Kano claimed revenge in 1997 and won the series 4-2. DH Revelation Maseko was finals MVP with the 30-year old South African proving a key addition. The Condors had signed him to a seven-year, $10,740,000 deal following a solid prior run with Port Harcourt. In 10 playoff starts, Maseko had 17 hits, 4 runs, 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 5 RBI. It was the Condors’ fourth WAB ring (1975, 76, 86). Kano made WAB history as the winningest team to take the title at 111-51, beating the previous high mark of 110-52 by Ibadan in 1993. This would mark the beginning of a prolific decade of dominance for the Condors. Other notes: Abidjan’s Benedict Collins broke his own single season stolen base record of 136, swiping 139 bags in 1997. This remains the WAB record as of 2037. SS Jorginho Fonseca won his eighth Gold Glove and LF Jake Pourchet won his seventh. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)