Finally, let's wrap up the preview with two underdogs from the northeast, plus the current "Big 3".
SITACHE BC
Sitache, CA
2020: 105-85 (5th)
Seasons in EL: 13
Best finish: 4th (2018)
Sitache is, just barely, the largest of the 5 major cities in Chastara, 3 of which currently have EL teams. Sitache BC were in the Second League as recently as 2016, but have put together a pretty sterling record the past few years.
Top players: CF Rolupi Shekesu, 3B Fumiecho Sahiu, SP Aro Ipo. Ipo is the big star for me, a tall righthander who nevertheless throws out of the sidearm. He kinda has a closer's profile, but is too valuable to be a closer, if that makes sense. Shekesu is also a unicorn, with 80-grade Gap Power. In 2019, he tied the single-season record with 100 doubles (!!). He's also led the league in triples three times in his five seasons.
2021 prediction: 96-94 (10th)
FAMPALO BC
Fampalo, CA
2020: 109-81 (4th)
Seasons in EL: 18
Best finish: 3rd (2015)
Fampalo is the second-smallest of the 5 major cities in Chastara, but due to its centrality it is the state capital. Fampalo BC is one of three current EL teams that have played as low as the fourth tier (Akashemo, Hokrof), but Fampalo is the best of those, at least according to the preseason predictions.
Top players: SS Wyku Tofpalts, RF Santa Chewefa, CF Pilima Ayawetsi. Similar to Shunna Eagles, this team is better on the pitching side but they do have these three good position players. Tofpalts was lured away from Semyof a couple of years ago, and then Semyof were immediately relegated... coincidence? Their big signing in the offseason was snapping up SP Kimyu Mekuri from Mamtul Wolves, ready to pitch in the EL for the first time... on opening day.
2021 prediction: 108-82 (4th)
KELERI BC
Hefem, EM
2020: 123-67 (3rd)
Seasons in EL: all 31
Best finish: 1st (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018)
The #1 standard-bearer for Lokasi baseball, Keleri finished 10th in the inaugural 1991 season and have not finished below 6th since then. 12 titles represent a full 40% of all those available! I counted this manually, so I might not be exactly right, but I only counted 10 clubs that have
ever finished ahead of Keleri in the season standings (1991 excluded). They are the yardstick by which everyone else is measured, and the fact that they sit 3rd means really good things for two teams.
Top players: C Epencho Posheni, LF Lesayo Sofiulo, CL Chysho Sofiulo. Chysho Sofiulo is interesting to me - as a local kid, born in the year after Keleri's first championship, closing for Keleri is the dream. With 6 years in the bank, he has already passed the 300-save milestone. Keleri really only have one weak point... unfortunately for them, it's the rotation. Shykim Relute's return in mid-March should be a big help.
2021 prediction: 109-81 (3rd)
TSAPNA BC
Ransu, RA
2020: 131-59 (2nd)
Seasons in EL: 29
Best finish: 1st (2012, 2019)
The way that I set things up, Tsapna begin the EL era as the 2nd-highest-rated team (behind Semyof). It didn't matter in the 2017 iteration, where they were lower-league hustlers, and when Tsapna were relegated twice in the late 90s I thought we were headed that way again. But nah, they re-established themselves and have now only finished in the bottom half once in the past 20 years.
Top players: SS Lawori El, 1B Safishi Ifata, 2B Kurano Shosotsoke. El is the reigning MVP, a 2-time winner after winning with Muni earlier in his career. He is rightly labeled as the league's #1 player. Ifata is great lineup protection - batting behind El, he just led the league with 172 RBI in 2020. Shosotsoke, just signed from the Eagles, will be the table-setter. They reeeeaaaallllly need a catcher though.
2021 prediction: 125-65 (2nd)
MIGHTY OAKS BC
Aroketsil, KX
2020: 151-39 (1st)
Seasons in EL: all 31
Best finish: 1st (2008, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2020)
For my money, the 2020 Mighty Oaks team is the greatest team in the 30 years of the EL. It's close based on record, but the only teams to surpass 151 wins were Semyof teams in the early years, when things were still a little more unbalanced. The 2021 team brings back mostly everyone, but Pitcher of the Year Lohy Awia will be missed, as will CF Mirotiko Apenu. Everyone else is back, though... everyone. These guys have to be considered the odds-on favorites - I'd bet on them over the field.
Top players: RF Peyaka Sefenera, C Metsifu Olufapo, 3B Netomue Kilutsa. This doesn't even include LF Faruo Ayekrea, who is classed as the league's #1 LF.
2021 prediction: 134-56 (1st)
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Alright, that's the preview! Now you know what's up in the Elite League for 2021. I'll talk about the first set of games tomorrow or Sunday, going one week at a time. As I mentioned earlier, Lokasi weeks are 12 days, and teams will play two 5-game series per week. The first week's matchups see two cool matchups to open the season, featuring a Big 3 battle and an Aroketsil derby:
Round 1:
Kupore @ Nokelto Scouts
Pasataki Galaxy @ Lutrul
Shunna Eagles @ Semyof
Sitache @ Muni
Fampalo @ Hokrof
National @ Kepmem
Amnanache @ Akashemo
Keleri @ Tsapna
Cheshek @ Aroketsil Spirits
Mighty Oaks @ Aroketsil Canaries
Round 2:
Kepmem @ Amnanache
Muni @ Cheshek
Aroketsil Canaries @ Kupore
Tsapna @ National
Semyof @ Pasataki Galaxy
Aroketsil Spirits @ Fampalo
Akashemo @ Keleri
Nokelto Scouts @ Shunna Eagles
Hokrof @ Sitache
Lutrul @ Mighty Oaks