[Ruwisc]

Week 15: August 16-27

Round 29:
....Sitache 0-5 National - 2-8, 4-8, 3-14, 1-9, 1-3
..A.Spirits 1-4 Tsapna - 6-10, 5-7, 5-8, 8-5, 1-4(10)
...Westline 3-2 Keleri - 5-4, 6-7(10), 13-7, 3-5, 4-2(11)
...Mithazni 3-2 Sh.Eagles - 6-0, 4-3, 6-0, 3-6, 1-9
..Amnanache 3-2 Kepmem - 2-3, 4-8, 2-1(11), 6-1, 8-7(10)
....Cheshek 3-2 Nokelto - 10-8(10), 5-7, 4-2, 1-5, 5-4(10)
Otahel City 0-5 Fampalo - 3-10, 0-2, 2-6, 0-8, 4-6
.....Hokrof 2-3 Kupore - 0-2, 5-2, 8-6(12), 9-10, 8-9(11)
...Akashemo 4-1 Lutrul - 4-2, 7-4, 1-0, 2-4, 5-2
...Pasataki 2-3 Mighty Oaks - 13-5, 1-6, 1-14, 10-2, 3-6


A couple of mildly surprising series outcomes. Mithazni have become road warriors of a sort, with 3 series wins in their last 4 trips. They now actually have a better road than home record for the season, one of only three teams that can say that. This season has gone worse for them than expected (and relegation was still expected) but they do have some solid EL-quality starting pitchers. Elsewhere, a series win away at Keleri seems to be a statement from fellow newly-promoted Westline that they do expect to be back in the EL next year.

Kupore 9, Hokrof 8 (11 innings): Despite the extra-inning opportunities, Kupore 1B Fomo Tirma had his hitting streak snapped at 25 games. Tirma only returned in early July from the concussion that ended his season last September, with this being just his 38th game back. Plugging him back into the leadoff spot was a big boost for Kupore, who are 23-15 since his return.

Round 30:
.....Keleri 4-1 Akashemo - 3-2(10), 8-6, 5-3, 10-7, 4-5(10)
...National 3-2 Westline - 4-5, 8-1, 8-7, 12-1, 2-6
....Nokelto 0-5 Pasataki - 4-15, 5-6, 3-7, 3-8, 4-6
.....Lutrul 5-0 Otahel City - 3-2(11), 5-3, 5-3, 13-6, 6-2
.....Kupore 2-3 Amnanache - 3-9, 4-2, 6-5(10), 1-5, 0-2
Mighty Oaks 3-2 A.Spirits - 4-1, 3-2, 6-2, 6-8, 2-3
.....Tsapna 3-2 Hokrof - 1-3, 6-7, 1-0, 2-1, 7-6
..Sh.Eagles 0-5 Cheshek - 5-6, 5-8, 2-6, 3-6, 3-10
.....Kepmem 4-1 Sitache - 5-2, 6-3, 3-1, 1-2(11), 11-3
....Fampalo 3-2 Mithazni - 0-3, 8-3, 5-1, 4-9, 9-3


Standings..........W..L
-- Mighty Oaks.106 44
-- ...National..98 52
-- ...Pasataki..91 59
-- .....Tsapna..89 61
+1 ....Cheshek..87 63
-1 .....Keleri..86 64
-- .....Kepmem..84 66
-- ..A.Spirits..78 72
-- ..Amnanache..74 76
+2 ....Fampalo..74 76
-1 ...Akashemo..73 77
-1 .....Kupore..73 77
-- .....Lutrul..70 80
-- ...Westline..68 82
-- ....Nokelto..63 87
+1 ..Sh.Eagles..61 89
-1 ....Sitache..61 89
-----------------------------
+1 .....Hokrof..57 93
-1 Otahel City..57 93
-- ...Mithazni..50 100


A horrible week for some of the relegation-threatened teams: Shunna Eagles were 2-8, Sitache went 1-9, and Otahel City was winless at 0-10. If Mithazni is going to survive, they're going to need this to happen a few more times, but they do find themselves three games closer to safety than they were last week.

The season has passed the three-quarter pole, so I think this is where I ought to pause to give an update on the rest of the league system with around 40 games to go across the board. When we resume EL play, these will be the next matchups:

Round 31:
Westline vs. Kupore
Cheshek vs. Mighty Oaks
Hokrof vs. Lutrul
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Shunna Eagles
Sitache vs. Tsapna
Mithazni vs. Kepmem
Akashemo vs. National
Amnanache vs. Keleri
Otahel City vs. Nokelto Scouts
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Fampalo

Round 32:
Keleri vs. Cheshek
Shunna Eagles vs. Akashemo
Lutrul vs. Amnanache
Nokelto Scouts vs. Aroketsil Spirits
National vs. Hokrof
Mighty Oaks vs. Westline
Kepmem vs. Otahel City
Kupore vs. Mithazni
Tsapna vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Fampalo vs. Sitache