2022 Quarter Pole – Stats Update
With 50 games down for each team, here's a look at how the early-season stats races are going:
Batting race:
Peku Karwo (ASPI, 1B): .393
Shatso Reseke (KEL, RF): .368
Solo Sipet (NAT, CF): .366
For the Spirits' early struggles, you'll see that they've had some pretty good statistical performances early on here. Karwo was the EL batting champion in 2020 as a rookie, and is still just 18. Raseke is actually the old man here at only 20. Hey, beating out infield hits is a young man's game, right?
Home runs:
Rolana Rekesu (ASPI, 3B): 21
Lara Tsimelefo (NOKS, CF): 20
Kala Koshynae (KEP, 3B): 18
All three of these guys have led the EL in home runs over a full season before. Fourth place, though, is Mithazni LF Lope Shosotsoke, in his first EL season following promotion.
RBI:
Kala Koshynae (KEP, 3B): 58
Somp Awia (OAKS, 1B): 50
Atsi Keana (PGAL, SS): 50
Position player WAR:
Kala Koshynae (KEP, 3B): 4.8
Peyaka Sefenera (OAKS, RF): 3.6
Faruo Ayekrea (KEP, LF): 3.3
Koshynae is definitely the early MVP favorite. He also leads the EL in OBP, slug%, runs scored, walks, ISO, and has an OPS+ over 200. The main reason why Kepmem are off to such a strong start, though the pitching staff has exceeded expectations merely by not being the league's worst.
Stolen bases:
Sawita Pichake (EAG, 2B): 19
Tukefa Atswue (CEX, LF): 17
Anesa Mikesash (NAT, SS): 17
Sysak Tisoki (FAM, 2B): 17
Pichake has outstolen four EL teams - five if you count "the rest of his Eagles teammates combined". Pichake, who has had exactly 46 steals each of the last two seasons, has never led the league in any category before.
ERA:
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 2.22
Aro Ipo (SIT): 2.73
Lohy Awia (NAT): 2.76
18 runs allowed in 73 innings across his 10 starts, a pretty sparkling run for Feshasu to open up. 8 of them quality starts, and all uphill since his rough outing on opening day vs. Keleri (5 runs, 11 hits in 5 innings).
Wins:
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 6
Talese Yelishike (OAKS): 6
Lesayo Lasheta (LUT): 6
Uriyoko Tselsiko (WEST): 6
The two Oaks players would probably win the tiebreaker by virtue of being 6-0, while Lasheta is 6-2 and Tselsiko 6-3. I'm a bit surprised no one has seven wins yet, given full-time starters have made 10 starts at this point.
Saves:
Chitipa Fyhy (AKAU): 16
Autsu Sikiura (OAKS): 16
Teyumpu Riali (AMN): 14
Two players who changed teams leading this list, Fyhy and Sikiura coming from Keleri and Hokrof respectively. Always a close-run leaderboard for saves though, 14 pitchers have reached double digits.
Strikeouts:
Pika Sopota (OTAC): 75
Laotso Tirionu (AMN): 70
Tula Mitonone (WEST): 67
Sad one there – Sopota's career-ending injury will leave him on 75 indefinitely. Tirionu was last season's league leader, so another crown would be no surprise.
Pitcher WAR:
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 2.8
Santa Ketitu (NAT): 2.1
Tsai Reyolafa (AMN): 1.9
Feshasu has to be the early frontrunner for what would be his first Pitcher of the Year award. Last year's winner, Tsapna's Sefti Merefife, if you're wondering, is off to an alright start (3-3, 3.04, 1.4 WAR) but not good enough to appear on any leaderboards.
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Lower Leagues Update
Second League
Three of these clubs will be part of the 2023 Elite League - there are a couple of early leaders way out front!
Standings............W..L
............Meka 35 13
............Muni 35 15
...Swans Menmapa 30 20
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..........Semyof 29 21
......Nipte City 29 21
...Tenshe.Rubies 29 21
..Ransu Shockers 27 23
...........Nokir 27 23
.........Rasenok 26 24
Arokets.Canaries 26 24
.....Nokelto Utd 24 26
......Yoho Bears 24 26
.........Penhara 24 26
.........Takanse 24 26
.........Tishmin 23 27
Pelpitimochu Utd 18 31
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...Mamtul Wolves 18 32
...........Linir 18 32
..........Wichku 16 33
..........Onesti 16 34
Meka are a real success story worth rooting for. A small town club in eastern Talor, a few hours drive northeast of Hokrof, who began in the 8th-tier Northwest Regional League, Meka BC is on the verge of becoming the first team to rise from even the 6th tier to the Elite League, never mind from lower. (The same would be true of Nipte City if they were to be promoted.) Are they equipped for EL survival? Ehhhh let's not worry about that right now. Good amount of EL pedigree with guys like SP Temi Wofayo (Kupore, Keleri, Tsapna), 1B Onaku Otsu (Semyof, Fampalo) and Hohau Okatsaka (Kupore).
Despite being relegated decisively from the EL last season, Muni have all the tools they'll need to return for next season.
Northern Premier League
Standings............W..L
...Sunoki Hearts 35 15
.Alilia Captains 34 16
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........Moonside 33 17
..........Yasral 33 17
....Lempisho Utd 29 21
.......Atafe Utd 28 22
..........Oyefit 27 23
...Sowichark Utd 27 23
.....Ransu Ports 26 24
.........Loshtsi 26 24
Enihaka Cyclones 25 25
....Tsutonsu Utd 25 25
............Kine 25 25
........Lisa Utd 23 27
.........Shalish 20 30
...........Losap 20 30
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......Hiolye Utd 20 30
.......Moshelosi 19 31
Sapoyo Tortoises 19 31
...........Lesha .6 44
The number that immediately jumps out at you is Lesha. I'm not sure how, but they only have 27 players under contract at all, and three pitchers are currently out injured (reminder, Lokasi teams carry 30-man rosters). Their promotion from the NSL from last season will be short-lived.
With a promotion, Sunoki Hearts (Ransu) would reach the Second League for the first time. In the original iteration of this league system back in OOTP18, they reached the Elite League, but only after I had stopped posting about it.
Southern Premier League
Standings............W..L
............Fese 36 14
...Killi.Bayside 35 15
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.........Amkutan 33 17
........Sachlihe 30 20
...........Fachi 29 21
Killitash Giants 28 22
.........Himespo 28 22
....Tinshenikosh 27 23
.........Shepero 26 24
.Killitash Stars 25 25
South Shore Aksa 25 25
.........Wikyats 23 27
...Hefem Rangers 22 28
.......Takelehun 22 28
......Feshuyalya 22 28
...........Somno 19 31
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....Aksa Hornets 19 31
...........Hilas 19 31
.....Hechemi Utd 18 32
..Hefem Monarchs 14 36
Fese and Bayside both play in the suburbs of Tenshemaho, though maybe Bayside fans would get offended at me calling Killitash a suburb. Because of geography, the SPL took three relegated teams from the 2L this season while the NPL only had one - not that it's mattered, with the droppers struggling on the whole.
Lower League Leaders
Tier 4:
Northern Super League - Sakse BC (Sakse, HO): 29-15
Southern Super League - Sokroch BC (Pasataki, ZA): 36-8
Tier 5:
Mideast League One - Wuhalale BC (Aroketsil, KX): 21-9
Northeast League One - Kolansolo United (Kolansolo, LS): 24-6
Southern League One - Tenshemaho City (Tenshemaho, ZA): 20-10
Western League One - Sametulshem United (Sametulshem, RP): 20-10
Tier 6:
Mideast League Two - Shunna Blues (Shunna, XU): 21-9
Northeast League Two - Alilia Waves (Alilia, CA): 20-10
Southern League Two - Asukot Sting (Asukot, ZA): 19-11
Western League Two - Nuretom BC (Lashpetilye, FH): 19-11
In SL2 and WL2, all eighteen teams in each league are all between 19-11 and 11-19. Nuretom have the league lead despite having a run differential of only +9!
Tier 7 is just underway, and tier 8 will start in mid-May.