You would expect teams 6-10 to be title contenders, but this is where a lot of our weirdos hang out.
KUPORE BC
Somno, KL
2020: 92-98 (10th)
Seasons in EL: 16
Best finish: 4th (2002)
Kupore is the flagship team for the state of Ketsis Ler, which is the smallest state by population on the mainland, but also identify with the whole "Ketsis" region, which includes the big teams from Aroketsil. ("Ler" just means "east".)
Top players: 1B Fomo Tirma, C Repimi Cholomu, SS Hekewi Ruicho. It'd be tough for me to choose 3 Kupore hitters to feature, their whole lineup is elite or close outside of CF. Tirma won the batting title in his debut season of 2019, and followed it up by hitting 75 doubles in 2020 to lead the league. Ruicho was a pickup from the relegated Mithazni and will really fill a hole.
It'd also be tough for me to pick three pitchers to feature because they're all so bad. Kupore is the only team projected to both score and allow a thousand runs this season. They'll be one of the more volatile teams - I wouldn't be that surprised if they cracked the top 5, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they fell flat and got relegated.
2021 prediction: 93-97 (11th)
SHUNNA EAGLES
Shunna, XU
2020: 92-98 (9th)
Seasons in EL: 20
Best finish: 2nd (2010)
The final feature for a team from the capital, the Eagles are not usually Shunna's best team (that's usually National). But they've done a decent job jumping into the power vacuum with National's recent struggles, and are seen as more prestigious than Muni are.
Eagles manager Lamaki Fetiloa is, unusually, the only EL manager who played in the EL himself (most were only lower-league players). He was also a relief pitcher, pitching for the Ransu Shockers and (scandalously) two stints with rival Muni. He wore 12 different jerseys in his career, though, so it's probably not that big a deal.
Top players: 2B Sawita Pichake, RF Okekola Narupu, LF Takipuse Porafi. These are the Eagles' only above-average position players, they'll really make their bread on the pitching side but the "Meet the Team" page chose all hitters. SP Toe Kachefe, 30, leads the line, with a trio of talented youngsters behind him.
2021 prediction: 93-97 (12th)
CHESHEK BC
Ransu, RA
2020: 94-96 (8th)
Seasons in EL: 24
Best finish: 6th (2016)
In the original iteration, this team's name was spelled "Tcecek" - I'm quite glad that I switched to spelling things phonetically. In-game, it's now spelled "Cexek" but I'll transliterate for y'all. The name of this big-city team never changed, just the spelling.
In 2017, I developed an animus toward Cheshek that I can't really explain, but it stuck and I still don't really like them. I should come up with an in-universe reason for that but I just haven't
Otherwise, this is a perfectly average-to-above-average EL team. Not likely to do anything too extreme.
Top players: SS Ketso Kofmi, C Pusituli Fomochi, LF Tukefa Atswue. Kofmi is a new arrival from relegated Wikyats Athletic, and was a 2-time MVP of the Second League from his time with Sachlihe BC. This is a pretty old team by Lokasi standards, with only a couple of regulars under the age of 25.
2021 prediction: 100-90 (8th)
AROKETSIL SPIRITS
Aroketsil, KX
2020: 98-92 (7th)
Seasons in EL: 13
Best finish: 4th (2017)
It is impressive how quickly the Spirits have stamped themselves as EL regulars, given the presence of the Mighty Oaks in their city. Aroketsil is spoiled with great baseball these days. In their current run in the EL (since 2011), they have not finished below 13th.
Top players: 1B Peku Karwo, SS Wasi Tsewajo, 3B Rolana Rekesu. The Spirits might have the world's best infield, with these three and 2B Okitso Womoipo all among the top 5 in the EL at their positions - if only the rest of the team were up to that standard. Karwo is a standout in part because he's only 17! One season down, and he already has a batting title under his belt.
2021 prediction: 107-83 (6th)
AMNANACHE BC
Ransu, RA
2020: 103-87 (6th)
Seasons in EL: 25
Best finish: 2nd (1999, 2000)
The only two times there has been a tie in record for the EL title, Amnanache was on the losing end. In 1999, their run differential was worse than Westline's, giving the Westliners their only title (they're now in the 2L). And in 2013, they finished on an identical 122-68 record with Mighty Oaks
and Tsapna, but finished 3rd behind them.
Top players: CL Fakaki Orukusa, SP Epencho Latsychano, RP Koshashu Taowa. A truly elite pitching staff, and not much in the way of hitting - how else do you get two relief pitchers in your top 3 players? The offense isn't bad, necessarily, but it is low-upside. Amnanache won't be a contender until some hitters come in
2021 prediction: 100-90 (7th)