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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-21-2024, 11:52 AM

Following second place finishes in the prior two years, Perth was back on top of the Australasia League at 94-68. It was their third title in five years and their eighth pennant total, more than any other AL team. Sydney was second at 88-74, while reigning Oceania Champion Adelaide was third at 87-75.

Australasia League MVP went to Perth 3B Dane Molitor. The 30-year old switch hitter led in runs (85), total bases (319), and WAR (7.3). He added a .310/.356/.540 slash and 26 home runs. Sydney’s Jim DeRossi grabbed Pitcher of the Year honors in his fourth season. He was the WARlord (10.2) and leader in K/BB (9.2), complete games (20), shutouts (7), FIP- (66), and innings (328.2). DeRossi added 366 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA with a 21-14 record.

The Pacific League title race was a three-team one. Guam took the title at 95-67 for their fourth of the 1990s (91, 92, 94). Samoa was one game short at 94-68, while two-time defending PL champ Honolulu was third at 91-71. The Golden Eagles grabbed their ninth league pennant, second only to the Honu’s 13.

Guadalcanal was fourth in the standings, but had the Pacific League MVP in CF Damien Patton. The 27-year old righty led in WAR (8.6) and runs (11), while adding 38 home runs. He denied Honolulu’s Vavao Brighouse his eighth MVP despite Brighouse smacking 68 home runs and 131 RBI. This was one homer short of the record 69 Brighouse set in 1995 and 1988.

Guam’s Timothy Manglona was the Pitcher of the Year in his third season. The 23-year old lefty from the Northern Marianas led in ERA (2.43), WHIP (0.84), quality starts (32), FIP- (73), and WAR (9.2). He added 411 strikeouts over 333.2 innings with a 15-18 record. Manglona also had a no-hitter on May 1 against Tahiti with 13 strikeouts and two walks. Manglona had no run support, while teammate Scott Webster had it all with a 28-8 record and league-best 441 strikeouts.

The 38th Oceania Championship wasn’t the first finals meeting between Guam and Perth. The Penguins won in the inaugural final in 1960. The Golden Eagles earned the win in 1979, then Perth got it back in 1994. The 1997 edition evened the series back up as Guam swept the Penguins for their fourth OBA title (1979, 80, 92, 97). CF Anthony Lehoux was finals MVP in his debut OBA season, having joined the Golden Eagles after eight years in EBF’s Luxembourg. He went 6-17 with four runs, four extra base hits, and six RBI.

Other notes: Vavao Brighouse passed Sione Hala’s 691 to become the OBA all-time home run king. Brighouse became the first to cross 700 homers. He also won his ninth Silver Slugger at first base. Graham Chapman was the third to reach 600 homers. SS Jay Lawrence won his seventh Gold Glove. Quentin Basa won his ninth Silver Slugger in left field.

03-21-2024, 11:52 AM	#1081
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,980	1997 in OBA Following second place finishes in the prior two years, Perth was back on top of the Australasia League at 94-68. It was their third title in five years and their eighth pennant total, more than any other AL team. Sydney was second at 88-74, while reigning Oceania Champion Adelaide was third at 87-75. Australasia League MVP went to Perth 3B Dane Molitor. The 30-year old switch hitter led in runs (85), total bases (319), and WAR (7.3). He added a .310/.356/.540 slash and 26 home runs. Sydney’s Jim DeRossi grabbed Pitcher of the Year honors in his fourth season. He was the WARlord (10.2) and leader in K/BB (9.2), complete games (20), shutouts (7), FIP- (66), and innings (328.2). DeRossi added 366 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA with a 21-14 record. The Pacific League title race was a three-team one. Guam took the title at 95-67 for their fourth of the 1990s (91, 92, 94). Samoa was one game short at 94-68, while two-time defending PL champ Honolulu was third at 91-71. The Golden Eagles grabbed their ninth league pennant, second only to the Honu’s 13. Guadalcanal was fourth in the standings, but had the Pacific League MVP in CF Damien Patton. The 27-year old righty led in WAR (8.6) and runs (11), while adding 38 home runs. He denied Honolulu’s Vavao Brighouse his eighth MVP despite Brighouse smacking 68 home runs and 131 RBI. This was one homer short of the record 69 Brighouse set in 1995 and 1988. Guam’s Timothy Manglona was the Pitcher of the Year in his third season. The 23-year old lefty from the Northern Marianas led in ERA (2.43), WHIP (0.84), quality starts (32), FIP- (73), and WAR (9.2). He added 411 strikeouts over 333.2 innings with a 15-18 record. Manglona also had a no-hitter on May 1 against Tahiti with 13 strikeouts and two walks. Manglona had no run support, while teammate Scott Webster had it all with a 28-8 record and league-best 441 strikeouts. The 38th Oceania Championship wasn’t the first finals meeting between Guam and Perth. The Penguins won in the inaugural final in 1960. The Golden Eagles earned the win in 1979, then Perth got it back in 1994. The 1997 edition evened the series back up as Guam swept the Penguins for their fourth OBA title (1979, 80, 92, 97). CF Anthony Lehoux was finals MVP in his debut OBA season, having joined the Golden Eagles after eight years in EBF’s Luxembourg. He went 6-17 with four runs, four extra base hits, and six RBI. Other notes: Vavao Brighouse passed Sione Hala’s 691 to become the OBA all-time home run king. Brighouse became the first to cross 700 homers. He also won his ninth Silver Slugger at first base. Graham Chapman was the third to reach 600 homers. SS Jay Lawrence won his seventh Gold Glove. Quentin Basa won his ninth Silver Slugger in left field. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)