The Lokasi Elite League

[Ruwisc]

January 2022 Transactions

January 7:

Lutrul's first major move is to bring in RP Mocheu Mishe, the Reliever of the Year runner-up, from Sitache for two years. He is expected to take over the closer's role from Tahi Mametsiu. Lutrul had the fewest team saves in the EL last season, fewer than 40.

January 8:

Fampalo brings in OF Sashem Sofiulo, formerly of Sowichark United (NPL, 3rd tier) to be the presumptive starter in left field, for 5 years and $10.8 million total. He is no stranger to the EL, having spent six years with Akashemo and one with Mighty Oaks, a reasonable piece for the bottom of an EL lineup.

January 10:

Pasataki acquire SP Sopota Tsimpese from Semyof, giving up two years of control on one of their own SPs, Penu Mametsiu.

January 12:

SP Tsarase Roshoshe, formerly of Muni, signs with Akashemo United for four years, $37.2 million. He is still recovering from September surgery, and not expected to be ready for the start of the 2022 season, but he won't miss more than a couple of weeks.

January 15:

The Galaxy sign catcher Repimi Cholomu from Kupore for 5 years, $28 million. He steps right into the middle of the Pasataki lineup alongside Wia Merefife and the newly acquired Atsi Keana.

January 30:

Sitache sign SP Neshofa Koleshaparo for 5 years, $11.2 million. The former Yasral starter (NPL, tier 3) will slot into the middle of the Sitache rotation.

Westline have signed Hoi Rerawe to a six-year contract totalling $19.2 million. The 28 year old has 9 years of EL experience with the Galaxy and Scouts, but was traded down to tier 5 and the Fuwarni Flames for his contract year of 2021.

January 31:

Westline also commit $21.1 million over six years to SP Pwea Popa. Popa also played previously in the fifth tier of Lokasi baseball, but he has not pitched above that level at all before, being a longtime member of the Oshotater Rubies.

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With one month left until the start of the season, several key players remain unsigned. 2B Apia Lela (formerly of Pasataki), C Epencho Posheni (Keleri), and C Takmake Efiyalem (Semyof) are all out there as star-level hitters.

Simultaneously, a few EL stars from last year have chosen to drop down a level or two. Former Muni 1B Nerutsok Uchotsela has signed on with the Sapoyo Tortoises in the NPL (tier 3), and former Fampalo star Pilima Ayawetsi has joined Muni in the Second League. EL stolen base leader Aroshop Lapa also chose to drop to the NPL with Shalish.

February is the offseason's final month, so not long until we're prepping for ball again.

[Ruwisc]

February 2022 Transactions

The big teams have already wrapped up their offseason business, and it's time for those looking for scraps to pounce.

February 1:

Hokrof sign on former Chilka (SSL, tier 4) SP Ekana Sesho for six years at a flat $2 million each year. Probably a good bet at the back of a rotation, but he has never pitched in the EL (age 24).

February 6:

Kupore signed 12 pitchers within the month of February alone, with a couple who are going to be rotation pieces. The first, and best, of those is a one-year deal for former Akashemo SP Losaka Werori. Werori is more than double the age of some of his teammates, at age 38, but has been quite steady the last couple years, making every start in 2020 and 2021 even with "Wrecked" injury status.

February 14:

The only major free agent domino to fall in February, Westline brings in C Epencho Posheni for four years and $24 million. Posheni has to settle for about half of what his salary was at Keleri, but at least he does have a job. Westline have had a great offseason, and look to be a top-half team if they can stay healthy, despite being newly promoted.

February 20:

A sentimental transaction for me, and one that starts with a short story. I was born in the year 1990, so I made sure to pause in the 2006-07 offseason to try to find a young player to track as if it were my own career. I didn't exactly find what I was looking for, so I picked a guy with the right background and goosed his potential a little bit. So help me, it's the only player edit I've actually done. Not enough for him to become an all-time great, I just wanted him to be interesting to watch.

So, the career of young LHP Uriyoko Tselsiko began. He was born in July 1990, the same day that I was, in the same city in which I picture myself living when I imagine what Lokasi is like (Aksa on the south coast), and he's left-handed like I am. So that was good enough for me to want to follow along – and this is where I decided to make him a little bit more of a prospect. He had started out with a team in the fifth tier, and then was traded down to tier 7 for a while. Tselsiko was always too good for that level (between 2011 and 2012, he threw eight no-hitters), so it was a huge blessing when his team was narrowly relegated from tier 6 in 2015, as it allowed him to opt out of his deal and move up to a higher level.

Uriyoko spent the next six years starring for the Sapoyo Tortoises of the Northern Premier League, leading their pitching staff and ranging from "quite good" to "elite" depending on the year. Still, he'd never pitched at a level higher than that, with Sapoyo narrowly missing promotion a couple of times. Until...

Westline acquires SP Uriyoko Tselsiko from the Sapoyo Tortoises for SP/RP Putta Toshamekoye and a prospect. Tselsiko, 31, looks to slot into the rotation right alongside Westline's other recent adds.

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That's basically it for the offseason. Before we start, I want to do a full season preview - like I did on page 1, I'll go 5 teams at a time starting from the bottom. And, of course, a new season means a new map!

[Ruwisc]

2022 Season Preview - Part 1

Lineup rankings and final record predictions come from the preseason predictions for total runs scored, while rotation and closer rankings are from the positional rankings report.



OTAHEL CITY
Otahel, FH
2021: 113-77 (3rd in Second League)
Seasons in EL: 2
Best finish: 19th (2020)
Payroll: $64.8 million (19th)

Otahel's first foray into EL ball did not go as planned. Now, with pretty much a whole new team, could it go differently this time? Otahel is a small city by EL standards, but it is the second-largest city in the state of Fyhot, and picking up fans throughout the north and northwest parts of the country.

Lineup (17th):
CF Toyeseshi Shocheye - 3B Maso Ere - LF Kiposo Posheni
1B Hekopa Ketunri - C Kiowu Salama - SS Sashe Pipasu
RF Hamafme Misha - 2B Hekewi Faseltsa

Otahel has a problem that IRL teams don't get that often - they are desperate for good hitters, and are stuck with two good catchers that can't both play every day. In this case, 19-year-old Haha Sachan is stuck on the bench. Salama is capable of playing the outfield, but they don't play him there for some reason.

Of these guys, only Ketunri and Misha were with the 2020 squad, so we'll have to judge this group on their own performances.

Rotation (11th):
Pika Sopota - Raretihe Lolif - Elpim Merefife - Lasha Chuotsa - Marte Fitiure

Solid, not overwhelming in any way.

Closer: Turoa Roshirmi (13th)

Overall, I expect Otahel to struggle a bit. The money just isn't there to add on to their weaker lineup.

2022 prediction: 74-116 (18th)



WESTLINE BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 122-68 (2nd in Second League)
Seasons in EL: 25
Best finish: 1st (1999)
Payroll: $92.2 million (10th)

Westline BC, named for the train line and later subway line that traces along the Gulf of Ransu coast, was started as a company team of railway workers before going professional. Westline's most historically successful period is the late 90s and 2000s, including a 14-year period where the team never finished below 7th. Times got harder after that, and they were relegated from the EL for the first time in 2014. After a couple of close calls with relegation to the NPL, Westline's superior history took over and they've built back up to this promotion.

Lineup (8th):
RF Nina Mukuapi - 1B Pumacha Potsonisa - LF Wyshuo Aliso
2B Teyumpu Rei - C Epencho Posheni - SS Atel Chirao
3B Kypo Futatse - CF Lafom Tsuefo

A surprisingly great lineup for a newly promoted team. Aside from Posheni, all were with Westline in the 2L last year, but all except for Futatse and Tsuefo are at least average EL starters.

Rotation (7th):
Tula Mitonone - Uriyoko Tselsiko - Pwea Popa - Hoi Rerawe - Mache Rolei

Mitonone is a huge talent, an 18-year-old that Westline were able to bring in in the 2019 offseason. Rolei isn't elite, but does have two rings from his time with Mighty Oaks in the early 2010s, while the middle three pitchers are all talented but less proven.

Closer: Maho Narupu (7th)

Overall, I expect Westline to skip over the re-establishment phase and be a pretty solid Elite League team right away. They don't have a ton of weaknesses.

2022 prediction: 100-90 (7th)



MITHAZNI BC
Hefem, EM
2021: 125-65 (1st in Second League)
Seasons in EL: 2
Best finish: 20th (2020)
Payroll: $59.1 million (20th)

Mithazni will hope to provide a foil for Keleri within the city of Hefem. Their promotion for the 2020 season was the first time in a decade that Keleri had had a local rival in the league! Hefem is home to a large portion of Lokasi's entertainment industry, and Mithazni is a pretty well-off area where a lot of the nation's rich and famous make their homes. It is said (but not officially) that Mithazni BC's choice of gold as its primary color is in reference to award statuettes.

Lineup (20th):
3B Rilokena Kelepe - CF Feme Shashynta - 1B Pokoni Merefife
LF Lope Shosotsoke - C Teao Ralfa - SS Anesa Pasisheto
RF Achi Fuowe - 2B Chukatu Riali

The 2020 Mithazni team was one of the worst offensive teams in EL history, scoring just 628 runs the entire season (3.3/game). This offense is projected to best that by about a hundred runs, but still to be the league's worst scoring outfit. Only Shashynta and Fuowe are returnees from the 2020 squad - getting relegated really shreds your roster.

Rotation (13th):
Kiri Yasei - Iotesi Eiyasho - Micha Mpetu - Towue Tomyare - Miratu Tefashayu

By contrast, all of the Mithazni starters have EL experience, the latter 3 being part of the 2020 squad and Yasei and Eiyasho having come over from Kepmem and Semyof, respectively. They will be solid on this side of the ball.

Starters Sosytse Paweshono and Fine Shokuho will both miss substantial portions of the season, but their expected returns in August and June, respectively, should provide a further boost.

Closer: Cheteko Mpetu (10th)

Overall, Mithazni will probably struggle this year unless they can find some offensive tools. Their pitching staff is good enough that the team won't be embarrassingly bad, probably, but a likely relegation candidate.

2022 prediction: 73-117 (19th)



NOKELTO SCOUTS
Nokelto, CA
2021: 81-109 (17th)
Seasons in EL: 25
Best finish: 7th (1995, 1996, 2000)
Payroll: $81.9 million (16th)

The Scouts were the last team to secure EL survival at the end of the 2021 season, holding off the fallen giants of Semyof to continue at the top level. Nokelto has a strong baseball tradition as a city, punching above its weight with the Scouts as Elite League regulars and with two teams in the Second League.

Lineup (14th):
RF Kik Wie - LF Ofame Lakihelise - SS Otsiku Nyru
CF Lara Tsimelefo - C Taliha Popa - 1B Fukle Tsitysho
3B Fawi Tini - 2B Neshofa Felitsu

All in all, a lineup that leaves you wanting a little more. Tini and Felitsu are not really players you want as EL starters, and while the middle of the lineup is alright the star power isn't really there either. Tsimelefo is the closest to that, but he's 7 years removed now from the great home run chase of 2015, when he came up 2 short of the single-season record of 81.

Rotation (16th):
Karpu Kohopa - Yila Mukako - Epencho Kemo - Tuwafo Kemo - Sae Nafoe

Kohopa was quite good in his rookie year of 2021, but the rest of the guys didn't produce a lot. Looks to be more of the same in 2022.

Closer: Tsykuka Mosaka (20th)

Overall, Nokelto's ceiling is low, but their floor is higher than some of the other teams in the lower echelon. They'll be near the relegation line again but they'll also feel OK about their chances of finishing above it... again.

2022 prediction: 80-110 (17th)



HOKROF BC
Hokrof, TA
2021: 83-107 (16th)
Seasons in EL: 5
Best finish: 9th (2019)
Payroll: $89.9 million (12th)

Since ascending to the EL for the 2018 season, Hokrof have established themselves as "team you're most likely to forget about when naming the EL clubs". But, they're the only representatives west of Shunna on the mainland, so they have a value to that part of the country. Hokrof is analogous to... Milwaukee? Cleveland? Someplace like that within the US (not an exact match).

Lineup (19th):
2B Mashu Chyralo - SS Fekiu Imatsa - 1B Ouler Tuemole
LF Keinu Wapatsite - CF Soso Aoko - C Sisha Rekute
RF Fakaki Sofiulo - 3B Pumacha Layaka

Compared to Nokelto, this lineup has a little more star quality, with Imatsa and Tuemole both well-regarded in their position groups, but also more holes. The bottom of this lineup is gonna struggle to move the line along too much.

Rotation (12th):
Atsi Lapa - Meteshu Tekuwo - Kuye Omnela - Sorihi Nisushi - Ekana Sesho

Lapa was a pretty good get, coming over from National in the offseason to lead the line. Otherwise, full of serviceable back-end starters.

Closer: Chiamo Wirilen (15th)

All in all, a fairly similar team to Mithazni, and they'll probably struggle in a similar way.

2022 prediction: 72-118 (20th)

[Ruwisc]

2022 Season Preview - Part 2

These are the teams that finished last year between 15th and 11th. If you can believe it, the team OOTP predicts to win this year's title is in this group.



LUTRUL BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 83-107 (15th)
Seasons in EL: 17
Best finish: 1st (2011)
Payroll: $90.5 million (11th)

Lutrul got bit by the injury bug last year, especially missing their key hitter Ipitashi Rerawe for several months. I've compared Rerawe to Mike Trout before, and like Trout, Rerawe now has some durability concerns, having now had ankle, shoulder, and abdominal injuries within the last two years.

Lineup (9th):
2B Poem Meste - SS Rair Felitsu - 1B Ilye Nofetso
CF Ipitashi Rerawe - RF Tsosotal Mpetu - 3B Tyzhit Shosotsoke
LF Sil Nokolo - C Otsiku Kiwarshi

No huge holes in this lineup when healthy. Nofetso filled in some of the gaps in his rookie year last season, stroking over a hundred extra-base hits en route to a .619 slugging percentage. Kiwarshi is not a strong hitter but is probably the league's best defensive catcher, a 3-time Gold Glove winner in his years with Kepmem and Lutrul.

Rotation (15th):
Shina Kemo - Lesayo Lasheta - Lasoshela Tymuwe - Shurolu Hofohe - Totsai Fomochi

A rotation that lacks star power but also has a high floor. Saryesi Petsytapa will be back from injury in May and slot in somewhere in the front half of the rotation as well.

Closer: Mocheu Mishe (16th)

Lutrul should score enough runs to be perfectly safe this season, as long as they're able to avoid any big injury issues.

2022 prediction: 90-100 (11th)



BK KEPMEM
Kiwa Punem, ME
2021: 84-106 (14th)
Seasons in EL: 12
Best finish: 9th (2012)
Payroll: $72.5 million (18th)

Kepmem have become perennial hangers-on, finishing between 14th and 17th in 7 of the past 8 years. They are hoping to hang on long enough for the Menmapa Swans to be promoted and give the state of Menmako multiple EL teams for the first time ever. Despite that, one or the other has been around for over two-thirds of the EL's history.

Lineup (7th):
RF Rosana Pishot - 1B Lesayo Kino - LF Faruo Ayekrea
3B Kala Koshynae - SS Nekafe Natso - 2B Oshor Ramukosho
C Richoye Lasiye - CF Asoko Mametsiu

Kepmem took what was already a pretty good lineup core and added a star to it in Ayekrea, who was lured over from Mighty Oaks. They did not have the budget room to bring back catcher Kiosho Chisie, which has left that position as a weak point with Lasiye. The back end of the lineup is one of the league's weakest, which should tell you just how good the middle of the order will be.

Rotation (20th):
Teshepo Tefasa - Toliki Lushelhi - Isishe Reto - Hushel Teshihoche - Tsatso Rapimwio

Not good. Only Tefasa would crack the rotation on most EL teams. I'm especially scared for Lushelhi, a 17-year-old rookie whose scouting report describes him as a "future spot starter" yet who is being relied on as the #2.

Closer: Uteuche Rolei (6th)

Altogether, Kepmem have taken over the role previously held by Kupore as "team most likely to turn every game into a track meet". They might not be good, but they'll be fun to watch.

2022 prediction: 85-105 (13th)



NATIONAL BC
Shunna, XU
2021: 86-104 (13th)
Seasons in EL: 30
Best finish: 2nd (2012)
Payroll: $153.1 million (4th)

National were relegated from the EL for the first time ever in 2016, and they were not happy about it. After failing to survive their first season back in 2018, and just barely surviving in 2020 on run differential, National re-established themselves as a proper Elite League club last season and had the budget to go for it. They've forked out a ton of offseason cash and are likely to be a much more formidable team in 2022.

Lineup (4th):
LF Kiowu Rorale - 1B Kashuma Rehefeo - CF Solo Sipet
RF Pumona Kakosuta - SS Anesa Mikesash - 3B Pelik Yelishike
2B Peyaka Kepi - C Chafosu Seshate

The National lineup was the weaker side of the team last year, so they aimed to fix that by bringing in not one, but two marquee free agents in Rorale and Sipet. There are no holes at all in this lineup, solid hitters up and down, and a potential future superstar as the backup catcher (Wupu Sichi).

Rotation (4th):
Lohy Awia - Santa Ketitu - Tacha Rinuka - Rilokena Shelok - Ponyl Rima

Shelok is the new import this season, coming in from Second League team Tishmin BC. Not a lot of depth here, especially before Wicharu Chishatopi returns from his shoulder injury at the end of April, but Awia and Ketitu are both front-line starters.

Closer: Fapasile Opopa (1st)

I missed Opopa as an offseason signing because I didn't recognize his name, but he'll be expected to be one of the league's top relief aces.

Overall, the preseason prediction system loves everything National did this offseason. Is it enough to vault them to the top of the league? I'm more doubtful than the in-game predictions are, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them make the top 3.

2022 prediction: 125-65 (1st)



SITACHE BC
Sitache, CA
2021: 87-103 (12th)
Seasons in EL: 14
Best finish: 4th (2018)
Payroll: $87.8 million (13th)

Sitache had finished in the top half each of the previous four seasons, but that marks probably the most successful period in the club's history. The offense took a big step back in 2021, leading to their drop from 5th in 2020 to 12th. What will this year bring for the EL's northernmost team?

Lineup (12th):
2B Wupu Popa - 1B Ekoro Mpetu - LF Monisho Hefie
CF Rolupi Shekesu - 3B Fumiecho Sahiu - SS Saepacha Koachali
RF Tsusenu Shiyetsorisu - C Rozhito Nepipa

Bringing in Hefie changed the outlook for the Sitache lineup completely. Last year's team finished 19th in runs scored, and this year should be a bit better. Outside of the 3-4-5 group they're still not awesome, but they should up their production as a unit.

Rotation (6th):
Aro Ipo - Mesa Tselsiko - Neshofa Koleshaparo - Chapeo Mematsa - Hecho Nikera

Ipo is one of the league's true aces, and is now in a contract year. Beyond Tselsiko, there's much to be desired, but not enough to hold Sitache back too much. Two Sitache starters, Rari Asi and Eshan Kohopa, will miss significant time to start the year via injury.

Closer: Femo Shosotsoke (11th)

If they can avoid further injuries to their pitching staff, I like Sitache's odds of survival. If not, though, the season could get ugly.

2022 prediction: 83-107 (15th)



AKASHEMO UNITED
Akashemo, RP
2021: 93-97 (11th)
Seasons in EL: 19
Best finish: 7th (2014)
Payroll: $97.1 million (9th)

Akashemo United started as minnows but have now spent 19 of the past 22 years as an Elite League club, representing their island roots quite well. A good comp for Akashemo is a team like Brighton in the English Premier League - it's not just a vacation spot, they have a team they can be really proud of. That said... I am a little worried about this year's team.

Lineup (16th):
LF Puda Faseltsa - RF Maho Tsimpese - C Kiposo Hatsalicho
2B Kypo Oifi - 3B Shati Ushineye - SS Chosyshire Pochayi
1B Yeweko Speaya - CF Hypuse Toyerno

It's very much the Kiposo Hatsalicho show with this group. Likely the league's best-hitting catcher, can he do enough to drag his teammates along? It's a contract year for the star catcher as well.

Rotation (10th):
Moshiwa Satre - Richate Kichyao - Lumekatse Merefife - Shihu Tsysesachese - Tsol Chanesha

Tsarase Roshoshe, who pitched the last four seasons for Muni before they were relegated, just missed making it back for the start of the season after his surgery. When he does, either Merefife or Chanesha will likely go to the bullpen. Roshoshe is probably the ace here, so let's hope he comes back with the same quality he had in the capital last year.

Closer: Chitipa Fyhy (3rd)

Last year, Akashemo had the league's best closer in Monon Watafo, but he's now with National. Fyhy was a good consolation prize on the free agent market though, coming in from Keleri to take the reins. Pusituli Yutepe, acquired in a trade from Keleri, will be one of the league's top setup men as well.

Akashemo will need some contributions from fringe players to ensure their safety this year - we'll just have to see what happens.

2022 prediction: 81-109 (16th)

[Ruwisc]

2022 Season Preview - Part 3



SHUNNA EAGLES
Shunna, XU
2021: 94-96 (10th)
Seasons in EL: 21
Best finish: 2nd (2010)
Payroll: $99.7 million (8th)

The Eagles have had a couple of years as the top dogs in the capital city. National's offseason splash makes that less likely this time around, but do the Eagles have anything up their sleeves? This is basically the same team as last year, with very few changes.

Lineup (18th):
2B Sawita Pichake - CF Pomi Peshti - RF Okekola Narupu
LF Takipuse Porafi - 1B Silike Ruea - 3B Teriwoma Etoso
SS Nynen Lila - C Tumi Lumafi

The top four hitters are all good-to-great, but the bottom of the lineup will let them down. After a ton of turnover in the 2020-21 offseason, all of these guys except for Lumafi were with the Eagles last year. Tsufa Irasoshi will compete for playing time behind the dish - he made 49 starts in 2021, and I'd expect more in '22.

Rotation (5th):
Zhitao Imatsa - Toe Kachefe - Nimape Turetsotsa - Kihase Mrokete - Pokoni Kofitsa

If you couldn't tell, I'm changing the spellings of some names to get around the profanity filters. Imatsa's name should really start with a Sh. These five guys combined to start 150 of the Eagles' 190 games last season, a lot of continuity.

Closer: Lafom Fiata (19th)

2022 prediction: 89-101 (12th)



KUPORE BC
Somno, KL
2021: 94-96 (9th)
Seasons in EL: 17
Best finish: 4th (2002)
Payroll: $86.4 million (14th)

Kupore's advertisement as a non-stop thrill ride did not quite come to pass in 2021, as they neither scored nor allowed a thousand runs (but they were close on the offensive side).

Lineup (13th):
SS Hekewi Ruicho - RF Selo Sisilu - LF Takipuse Shihoe
3B Koraralu Fatsi - C Ekoro Akoshare - 1B Kekuli Pipasu
2B Mirotiko Nysho - CF Tsefehy Makeso

The offense has taken a major step back at Kupore, with superstar 1B Fomo Tirma still dealing with his concussion symptoms from last fall, RF Hohau Osatsaka having gone down to the Second League with Meka (a big reason why they're promotion favorites for next season's EL), and catcher Repimi Cholomu now with Pasataki Galaxy. Tirma will not be back until at least the end of July, so a lot of pressure is on Ruicho, Shihoe, and Fatsi to at least tread water until Tirma is back. Misote Teshelo is also being wasted on the bench - if I were managing Kupore, I'd be playing Fatsi at 2B and Teshelo at 3B, but what do I know?

Rotation (18th):
Neshi Misorihula - Topi Sesese - Losaka Werori - Rattio Ayawetsi - Moi Niloni

I am surprised this is not ranked as the league's worst rotation, but that's not to say there's nothing positive to say. Sesese, Werori, and Niloni are new to the team, with the former two having pitched elsewhere in the EL last year (Sesese at Semyof, Werori at Akashemo). Misorihula has drawn the opening day assignment, and probably has the most upside, but I think Sesese will be the staff leader.

Closer: Lofi Rimshipu (14th)

I don't think I agree with the prediction that Kupore will finish in the top half - that might be taking a full season from Tirma into account. Is the deficit enough to get them relegated? Probably not, but I don't think Kupore will do all that much this year.

2022 prediction: 93-97 (10th)



CHESHEK BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 99-91 (8th)
Seasons in EL: 25
Best finish: 6th (2016)
Payroll: $107.1 million (6th)

Cheshek looked really strong in the first half of last season, then faded sharply down the stretch to finish 8th. There were points last season where it seemed like they would finish ahead of teams with huge pedigrees like Tsapna and Keleri. They made a few big moves to bolster their lineup, but their strong pitching staff of a year ago has taken a few steps back.

Lineup (6th):
SS Ketso Kofmi - CF Manna Tyheshina - RF Syshawe Arachihe
LF Tukefa Atswue - 3B Shulohi Awia - C Pusituli Fomochi
2B Memerri Kiresho - 1B Teyi Popa

Arachihe was the top available amateur free agent in the "class of 2005". Can he step into a starring role at age 16? He certainly looks capable of doing so, and is mentally strong for such a young kid. Teyi Popa is also a rookie, though, and he doesn't look quite so ready. Cheshek would be better off moving fourth outfielder Siso Narupu to 1B for the time being while Popa develops.

Otherwise, this is a strong crew, in a "death by a thousand cuts" type of way. No weak hitters at all, 1 through 7.

Rotation (17th):
Tsysi Fatsi - Mpitso Pichuohe - Pilau Rima - Shalo Faseltsa - Santa Tapia

Hohau Mileku and Tsakefi Chileros have moved on from last year's rotation, leaving Cheshek without a strong unit to start 2022. (Just as they did last year, Cheshek will start the season by visiting the Spirits, so they'll see Mileku right away.)

The result is... questionable. I don't think I'm as harsh on the rotation as the 17th-place ranking is, but it won't be Cheshek's strength.

Closer: Rukakili Shiyetsorisu (17th)

Cheshek might not be a stronger team than last year, but I think they have a good chance to beat last year's record. And if the young Arachihe is as advertised, then they have a franchise cornerstone ready to go.

2022 prediction: 106-84 (6th)



PASATAKI GALAXY
Pasataki, ZA
2021: 103-87 (7th)
Seasons in EL: 22
Best finish: 4th (2015)
Payroll: $100.7 million (7th)

It's easy to forget (for me) that at this time last year, the Galaxy were a newly-promoted team just trying to find their footing. Their two stud hitters, Apia Lela and Wia Merefife, it was thought, would do enough for them to survive the first season. Well, the rest of the team stepped up majorly and Pasataki did extremely well. Now, Lela is gone (still unsigned, mind you, but unlikely to return to the Galaxy), but the team can mash with anyone.

Lineup (1st):
RF Timleni Chanesha - CF Yaropatso Kesia - SS Atsi Keana
1B Wia Merefife - 3B Nofuelo Kisami - C Repimi Cholomu
LF Mamose Paerisuso - 2B Tsata Mote

The league's deepest lineup for sure, the preseason predictions take Pasataki to outscore the field by nearly half a run per game. Apia Lela has effectively been replaced by new SS Atsi Keana, who came up from tier 3 in a trade.

Having Tsata Mote hitting in the #8 spot is a real show of how deep this team is. He ended up splitting time between SS and LF last year, after being the team's primary CF in 2020, but 2B is his natural position, which he can take over with Lela gone.

Rotation (14th):
Shotse Chyliwo, Sopota Tsimpese, Cheteko Epofemi, Ilanesu Koksa, Musase Sofiulo

Not a bad rotation per sé, but an unproven one. Chyliwo, 19, has ace potential but hasn't shown his peak yet. Chiap Pake will be ready to return from injury during Week 1, so it remains to be seen what the rotation will actually look like. Though he's been a starter for several years, Koksa looks like he could be an ace reliever, so I wonder if that's up for consideration.

Closer: Lisou Nikera (9th)

I think it makes sense to expect even more from Pasataki in 2022, I like this prediction. "Outscore your problems", right?

2022 prediction: 113-77 (5th)



FAMPALO BC
Fampalo, CA
2021: 104-86 (6th)
Seasons in EL: 19
Best finish: 3rd (2015)
Payroll: $82.7 million (15th)

Fampalo is taking a step back this year, no doubt. The team from Chastara's capital are, historically, one of the EL's smallest franchises, and they can't always keep out-shrewding everyone forever.

Lineup (15th):
2B Sysak Tisoki - LF Sashem Sofiulo - SS Wyku Tofpalts
RF Santa Chewefa - 1B Chasaro Yutepe - 3B Feli Tyzhite
C Yansochi Shyletsa - CF Tofe Uyeshu

There's a little bit of budget room for Fampalo, and I think they could afford to upgrade at least the catcher position. They let incumbent catcher Tatsasaka Ahoyeo go in the offseason, and with a very crowded catching market he's still unsigned as of opening day. His former backup, Shyletsa, is not really EL-caliber. Chasaro Yutepe also took a big step back in his second season with the club, and still has three more years under contract. Tofpalts is a stud, having just finished second in MVP voting for 2021, & Chewefa is also quite solid, but the rest of the lineup is fairly weak.

Rotation (9th):
Kimyu Mekuri - Pecho Tsytemoi - Filashe Sikepo - Karpu Tyle - Keke Sosefa

The rotation was not hit as hard by departures, but Sosefa is a downgrade from Kiposo Simuofe, who went to 2L team Nokir over the winter. That might be offset from a full healthy season for Mekuri, who was only able to make 11 starts last season.

Closer: Latsor Sofiulo (18th)

Fampalo's bullpen was also weakened by the loss of closer Soralone Naranawu, who signed with Amnanache over the offseason.

This team is probably way too good to get relegated in 2022 - it's the years beyond that worry me.

2022 prediction: 84-106 (14th)

[Ruwisc]

2022 Season Preview - Part 4



AMNANACHE BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 106-84 (5th)
Seasons in EL: 26
Best finish: 2nd (1999, 2000)
Payroll: $133.2 million (5th)

Amnanache are such an interesting team each year because their roster build is so unique. Top-end talent on the pitching side, year after year, but no hitters in sight. Last year's team was 14th in runs scored, but 2nd in runs allowed. If that sounds like a recipe for being pretty consistently good, but not good enough to win a championship, then congrats, you've read the situation correctly.

Lineup (11th):
3B Shaho Shosisi - CF Kikae Rueara - 2B Peche Iyikio
1B Tsepetsi Rolei - RF Chukatu Mofatsitsali - SS Emi Sesotu
LF Atsi Orol - C Yatil Rima

Never this team's strong suit. There's no budget room to go out and get anyone else, unfortunately, and there are only 12 position players under contract in the whole org. None of these guys are outright bad, aside from maybe Orol, but none are ranked in the top 5 at their positions. Thank goodness for Iyikio, who is on the minimum $500,000 salary and expected to take the leap into team leadership in his second pro season.

Rotation (2nd):
Epencho Latsychano, Laotso Tirionu, Tsai Reyolafa, Ketsu Sasewiraka, Teriwoma Zhitsi

The rotation is as good as ever. Latsychano had a strong case to be Pitcher of the Year in 2021, finishing second, while Tirionu led the league in strikeouts, and Reyolafa would be the ace for at least half the teams in the EL. I don't really buy Zhitsi as an EL starter, but Amnanache can afford to stash a perfectly capable Pikiul Omonora on their reserve roster, so the depth is there if he fails.

Closer: Tejumpu Riali (5th)

I am more bullish on Amnanache than the predictors are. They do have a ceiling, for sure, but I think it's reasonable for them to aim for another top-5 finish.

2022 prediction: 96-94 (9th)



KELERI BC
Hefem, EM
2021: 109-81 (4th)
Seasons in EL: all 32
Best finish: 1st (12 times; 1997, 98, 2000, 02, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10, 15, 16, 18)
Payroll: $209.3 million (1st)

Despite being 3 seasons without a championship, Keleri are still the team by which everyone else is measured. Finishing ahead of Keleri for the first time is a milestone in a franchise's history - the Spirits just pulled it off last year, and I wouldn't blame them for hanging a banner for it. Last season actually broke a string of 7 consecutive top-3 finishes for the green and gray.

Lineup (5th):
1B Apia Rarasahiu - CF Rarehimi Pohyfe - RF Shatso Raseke
LF Lesayo Sofiulo - C Tupae Pufosa - 2B Felpa Tyle
3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo - SS Poem Solicha

Compared to Keleri lineups of years past, there isn't a single reality-warping star in this lineup, but everyone is doing at least something at a high level. The weak point might be in the leadoff spot with Rarasahiu - he's a perfectly fine hitter but Keleri can do better. He's on his 10th year with the club, though, so how do you say no to that? Brett Gardner got to stay in New York as long as he wanted. Keleri's two catchers are both new to the club, Pufosa from Amnanache and Lakiru Shufaho from Ransu Shockers, both of whom are elite. Should probably find a way to play them both.

Rotation (8th):
Somashe Renlese - Ihuna Cheyeo - Sleta Culosaleta - Shaltseri Kalorotiha - Rani Waike

No aces in the bunch, at least right now, but everybody is at least a 3. Kalorotiha is the question mark, I suppose, as a fresh-faced rookie of 16, but he's got superstar potential.

Closer: Chysho Sofiulo (2nd)

Keleri can never really be counted out until the votes are tallied. No reason to think they won't be in the mix until the very end.

2022 prediction: 124-66 (2nd)



AROKETSIL SPIRITS
Aroketsil, KX
2021: 115-75 (3rd)
Seasons in EL: 14
Best finish: 3rd (2021)
Payroll: $81.8 million (17th)

We should take this moment to properly give the Spirits their flowers for a spectacular 2021 season. While they didn't win the title, they never would have dreamt that they would. The fact that it was ever a possibility is enough. By finishing third, they broke a 4-year streak of the top three teams being Keleri, Mighty Oaks, and Tsapna in some order. Even a year on from finishing 3rd in the league, they're still rolling with a bottom-5 payroll. (It's probably time for me to expand Spirits Park past its 11,700 capacity... let's do that next offseason.) Despite all that, they still reduced ticket prices for 2022. King stuff.

Lineup (3rd):
SS Wasi Tsewayo - LF Lia Tsesahem - 3B Rolana Rekesu
1B Peku Karwo - 2B Okitso Womoipo - RF Fapasile Lumafi
CF Roshuere Nesapatame - C Feko Kuishuchutso

There are five secrets to the Spirits' success. They're not very well-kept secrets, because Aroketsil lists them as #1-5 on their lineup card every night. Last season I credited the infield as the thing that would keep the Spirits competitive, but you can add Lia Tsesahem to that group. This is Tsesahem's contract year - the Spirits would love to keep him around, but the money will be tight. The rest of the lineup is actually pretty rough, but the top 5 guys are so dynamic that it almost doesn't matter.

Rotation (19th):
Hohau Mileku - Mafuke Yshetsea - Olf Fochaeki - Lalasu Mpetu - Maho Rirto

Actually pretty bad. Their best starter, at least in name, last year was Ihuna Cheyeo, now of Keleri. Mileku (who will get the opening day start against his former team Cheshek) is roughly the replacement there. The Spirits just did not have a good rotation at all last year either.

Closer: Santa Chefisa (12th)

Even with the slightly weaker rotation, 8th feels harsh for the Spirits. We can't have 8 teams finish in the top 5, but you know what I mean.

2022 prediction: 97-93 (8th)



TSAPNA BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 123-67
Seasons in EL: 30
Best finish: 1st (2012, 2019)
Payroll: $157.6 million (3rd)

It was unclear which team would finish second in last year's race... until Tsapna won 23 games in a row to finish the season. To that, I say... "yeah Tsapna in second feels about right". While they are the most recent of the real "Big 3" to establish themselves, and have many fewer titles than either Keleri or Mighty Oaks (or Semyof, for that matter), Tsapna can still beat anybody.

Lineup (10th):
RF Iti Tashete - CF Chiati Rolei - 2B Lawori El
1B Safishi Ifata - 3B Arurke Timaere - SS Kysatse Nysotof
LF Shesho Apasarue - C Nak Fatohatse

The story of the Tsapna offseason is some drama in the middle infield. Lawori El is the star of this team, no doubt, and last year played short next to a very strong Tsapna debut season from Kurano Shosotsoke at 2B. Now, the signing of Nysotof seems to have pushed Shosotsoke out of the lineup, despite him undoubtedly being a better hitter. Nysotof is the best defender, but nobody is bad out there. At the same time, Nysotof is capable of playing corner outfield, where the team badly needs an upgrade from Apasarue. The solution seems obvious, but not to CPU manager Kire Famha. While they're at it, they should probably use some of their remaining $1,725,000 of budget room to sign a catcher.

Rotation (1st):
Sefti Merefife - Mua Wyranu - Setsinak Perano - Lomunu Awia - Tupae Epofemi

The top four starters are mainstays, with Perano signed away from the Spirits in the 2020-21 offseason and the other three being homegrown stars. Merefife is the reigning Pitcher of the Year, Awia finished fourth, and Wyranu seventh. Tsapna tried four different starters in the fifth spot last year, and of them, Epofemi was one of the two who impressed. Kino Salama took a deal to become Feshuyalya's closer in the SPL (tier 3) so Epofemi won the job to start this year.

Closer: Akawo Nylur (8th)

Will Tsapna figure out the bottom of their lineup in time to score enough runs to win it all? I guess we'll find out.

2022 prediction: 122-68 (3rd)



MIGHTY OAKS BC
Aroketsil, KX
2021: 130-60 (1st)
Seasons in EL: all 32
Best finish: 1st (6 times; 2008, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21)
Payroll: $174.3 million (2nd)

Two straight titles for the Oaks. While this one didn't end up looking as dominating as the 2020 crown, due to Tsapna's win streak, it was very rarely in doubt who would win the 2021 Elite League. Now, how do they follow it up? No team has won three straight EL crowns since Semyof won the first five in 1991-95, even though back-to-back has been done now six times since then.

Lineup (2nd):
3B Netomue Kilutsa - LF Yalofe Uepepa - RF Peyaka Sefenera
1B Somp Awia - C Metsifu Olufapo - CF Myna Kylchi
2B Mashual Rikokira - SS Tsorope Mametsiu

The trio of Sefenera-Awia-Olufapo is close to the top as far as lineup trios go. The rest of the lineup is surprisingly underwhelming offensively. They will score a lot of runs, but an important part of the Oaks' dominance is that they are easily the league's best defensive team. The MIF duo of Rikokira and Mametsiu is so good that they'd be valuable even if they were two automatic outs. And, well, Rikokira can hit OK. Mametsiu's value is pretty much exclusively at short.

Rotation (3rd):
Notsimi Feshasu - Siteno Aefep - Tytsi Sofiulo - Palfa Ninelhepi - Talese Yelishike

Kiosho Epofemi is out until mid-May, likely to fill Yelishike's spot when he returns. This group is a clear step behind the Tsapna or Amnanache rotations, but I think clearly the next-best. Feshasu is every old man's favorite pitcher, a big hulking sinkerballer who doesn't need to get Ks to be effective (in contrast to the more new-school guys at Amnanache). Aefep and Sofiulo are great too despite not even being caught up in a culture war.

Closer: Autsu Sikiura (4th)

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think you can look at all this and conclude that the Oaks aren't the favorites again. Not as clear cut as last year, but if I have to pick one team to win the 2022 Elite League I'm taking MOBC. But, the official preseason predictions think differently.

2022 prediction: 118-72 (4th)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And that gets us ready for the 2022 EL season! Games start in the next post, and man is Round 1 a doozy. Perhaps the four teams most being talked about for the title will meet one another to start the season, with Mighty Oaks vs. Keleri even randomly drawing the coveted March 1 opening day slot. And it doesn't end there, because after Tsapna face new-look National in round 1, they go to play the Oaks in round 2. Meanwhile, all three promoted teams will start their seasons at home, which is nice, and there are a couple more fascinating matchups like Cheshek vs. the Spirits and a Chastara derby with Nokelto/Fampalo. Picture-perfect opening draw.

Round 1:
Lutrul vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Amnanache vs. Mithazni
Akashemo vs. Westline
Nokelto Scouts vs. Fampalo
Kupore vs. Kepmem
Cheshek vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Shunna Eagles vs. Otahel City
National vs. Tsapna
Mighty Oaks vs. Keleri
Sitache vs. Hokrof

Round 2:
Kepmem vs. National
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Sitache
Hokrof vs. Amnanache
Tsapna vs. Mighty Oaks
Westline vs. Shunna Eagles
Keleri vs. Nokelto Scouts
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Akashemo
Mithazni vs. Lutrul
Fampalo vs. Kupore
Otahel City vs. Cheshek

[Ruwisc]

Week 1: March 1-12

Featured game:
March 1: Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS) vs. Somashe Renlese (KEL)
Oaks: 3B Kilutsa, LF Uepepa, RF Sefenera, 1B Awia, C Olufapo, CF Kylchi, 2B Rikokira, SS Mametsiu, P Feshasu
Keleri: 1B Rarasahiu, CF Pohyfe, RF Raseke, C Pufosa, 3B Tsefufayalo, 2B Tyle, LF Sofiulo, SS Solicha, P Renlese

Mighty Oaks 250 010 000 8 .8 0
.....Keleri 500 003 001 9 18 0

By luck, two of the EL's top teams face off in the opening night game, and what a wild game it was! Keleri's Shatso Reseke was 5 for 5 in the game, all five singles, while driving in three runs and scoring once. For the Oaks, newcomer Somp Awia was the star, giving the champs their initial lead with a first-inning double, then restoring the lead with a grand slam in the 2nd. Keleri C/OF Shutsi Nopoafa, a part-timer who has played in about half of Keleri's games for the past nine years, was the walk-off hero off the bench, scoring Tsefufayalo with a single.

Round 1:
.....Lutrul 1-4 Pasataki - 1-8, 4-13, 4-6, 6-2, 10-14
..Amnanache 3-2 Mithazni - 2-1(10), 3-2, 3-5, 1-2, 6-0
...Akashemo 3-2 Westline - 6-4, 1-3, 6-4, 12-10, 0-5
....Nokelto 1-4 Fampalo - 2-10, 2-1, 2-9, 6-8(10), 3-10
.....Kupore 1-4 Kepmem - 5-4, 5-8, 3-8, 4-5(11), 1-7
....Cheshek 3-2 A.Spirits - 7-5(10), 7-2, 4-7, 5-1, 5-9
..Sh.Eagles 2-3 Otahel City - 4-5, 5-9, 6-3, 2-8, 6-1
...National 3-2 Tsapna - 2-1, 5-4, 0-3, 3-13, 4-3
Mighty Oaks 3-2 Keleri - 8-9, 6-1, 4-11, 7-5(10), 3-2
....Sitache 3-2 Hokrof - 1-8, 3-2, 6-2, 15-5, 8-9


I like it when there are no sweeps in the first round - at least everyone gets off the schneid early. Lutrul was the last team to pick up a W, and it only took until March 5. Big series wins for National and Mighty Oaks in the two marquee series, winning 3 of 5 on the road.

Amnanache 2, Mithazni 1: Despite the win, sour for Amnanache as ace Epencho Latsychano leaves with an elbow injury in the 6th inning. Mithazni was able to tie the game after he left, spoiling his bid for an opening-day win. 3B Shaho Shosisi won the game in the 10th with a sacrifice fly. Latsychano’s injury is not expected to be long-term, but he’ll miss at least a week.

March 5: Big news from the delayed free agent market. Top free agent 2B Apia Lela, who had gone the entire offseason unsigned after departing the Pasataki Galaxy, agrees to a 1-year, $5.1 million contract to return to Pasataki! I had not envisioned this happening at all. I spent time in the Galaxy preview extolling Tsata Mote and his chance to play his natural position of 2B for once... no longer. Back to the outfield with ya! He won't mind at all - the Pasataki lineup that was already expected to lead the league in run-scoring just got substantially better. Watch out, pitching staves everywhere.

Fampalo 8, Nokelto 6: Nokelto CF Lara Tsimelefo has the season's first 3-homer game in a losing effort, driving in 5 of the 6 Nokelto runs. His solo shot tied the game 3-3 leading off the 9th, and his second 2-run homer of the game came in the 10th and increased his club's lead to 6-3. But, uh, it didn't end well. Fampalo's Sashem Sofiulo dropped a walk-off grand slam to render the whole performance moot.

Pasataki Galaxy 14, Lutrul 10: two noteworthy feats in this game. Galaxy SS Atsi Keana recorded 9 RBI in the game, a new team record (in his 5th game for the team) and the most in an EL game in five years. He hit grand slams in consecutive innings! In total, Keana recorded 18 RBI this week, putting him in the league lead in that category. In a losing effort, Lutrul SS Rair Felitsu hit for the cycle, capping it with a 9th-inning RBI double as Lutrul's miracle comeback from 14-5 down fell short.

Round 2:
.....Kepmem 4-1 National - 8-3, 5-3, 7-6, 4-16, 6-5(13)
...Pasataki 2-3 Sitache - 0-4, 4-5(11), 2-5, 7-3, 5-4(10)
.....Hokrof 2-3 Amnanache - 7-8, 8-9, 5-4(10), 2-8, 6-1
.....Tsapna 2-3 Mighty Oaks - 1-0(10), 3-10, 1-2, 4-2, 6-7
...Westline 3-2 Sh.Eagles - 1-0, 1-8, 3-4(11), 7-1, 6-2
.....Keleri 5-0 Nokelto - 10-2, 7-5, 5-0, 6-2, 10-4
..A.Spirits 1-4 Akashemo - 6-4, 7-9, 6-7, 6-7, 2-3(11)
...Mithazni 3-2 Lutrul - 3-1, 2-5, 5-4(11), 5-6, 6-5
....Fampalo 2-3 Kupore - 1-6, 4-7(11), 0-6, 6-2, 1-0
Otahel City 1-4 Cheshek - 5-6, 4-3(10), 1-3, 3-11, 0-4


Tsapna 1, Mighty Oaks 0: With aces back up for their second starts to begin round 2, this was an all-time great battle between Tsapna's Sefti Merefife and Mighty Oaks' Notsimi Feshasu. Both pitchers completely shut down the opposing superstar-laden lineup, Feshasu going 8 innings with two hits allowed and Merefife pitching into the 9th with the same two hits, ultimately going 8 2/3. The game went into extras, where Tsapna was able to convert their 10th-inning zombie runner, though not cheaply, as pinch-hitter Chatiri Ketsekiriti cashed in with an RBI double to score what would be the game's only run.

Kepmem 7, National 6: In what would become a statement series win for Kepmem, star signing Faruo Ayekrea finished a single short of the cycle in this comeback win, Kepmem overcoming a six-run first inning for National. Ayekrea's home run tied the game in the 7th inning.

Standings......W.L
.....Kepmem 8 2
.....Keleri 7 3
....Cheshek 7 3
...Akashemo 7 3
...Pasataki 6 4
....Fampalo 6 4
....Sitache 6 4
..Amnanache 6 4
Mighty Oaks 6 4
...Westline 5 5
...Mithazni 5 5
.....Tsapna 4 6
.....Kupore 4 6
..Sh.Eagles 4 6
...National 4 6
.....Hokrof 4 6
Otahel City 4 6
-----------------------------
..A.Spirits 3 7
.....Lutrul 3 7
....Nokelto 1 9


Last season, Mighty Oaks made a statement right away, jumping out to a two-game lead after week one. I'd be pretty surprised if we had a wire-to-wire winner this year given that it would have to be Kepmem, but boy they did have quite a start! Winning 4 of 5 at National is a difficult task.

Next week, things cool down a bit from the week 1 fireworks. In round 3, the league's hottest team hosts its coldest (Nokelto vs. Kepmem). Round 4's marquee series is probably the one between the two teams that made the biggest sets of offseason moves, with Pasataki @ National.

Round 3:
Shunna Eagles vs. Hokrof
Nokelto Scouts vs. Kepmem
Keleri vs. Fampalo
Westline vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Amnanache
National vs. Kupore
Akashemo vs. Mithazni
Mighty Oaks vs. Sitache
Cheshek vs. Lutrul
Tsapna vs. Otahel City

Round 4:
Lutrul vs. Keleri
Hokrof vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Kupore vs. Nokelto Scouts
Mithazni vs. Tsapna
Otahel City vs. Mighty Oaks
Amnanache vs. Akashemo
Pasataki Galaxy vs. National
Fampalo vs. Westline
Kepmem vs. Shunna Eagles
Sitache vs. Cheshek

[Ruwisc]

Week 2: March 13-24

Featured game - March 15: Aroketsil Spirits (4-7) vs. Amnanache BC (6-5)
Mafuke Yshetsea (0-2, 11.88) vs. Laotso Tirionu (0-0, 3.72)
ASPI: SS Tsewayo, LF Pochayi, 1B Karwo, 3B Rekesu, 2B Womoipo, RF Lumafi, CF Nesapatame, C Kuishuchutso, P Yshetsea
AMN: 3B Shosisi, CF Rueara, 2B Iyikio, SS Rolei, RF Sesotu, 1B Sikiura, LF Orol, C Rima, P Tirionu

A.Spirits 000 000 000 0 2 1
Amnanache 201 000 00x 3 8 0
W: Tirionu (1-0) L: Yshetsea (0-3) S: Riali (4)
PotG: Laotso Tirionu - 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K

Tirionu throws a gem, retiring 20 straight Spirits batters after Womoipo's 2nd-inning double. The only other hit was a two-out ninth inning double by Tsewayo off of Teyumpu Riali, but Tsewayo was too aggressive and was caught trying to stretch to a triple, ending the game. For Amnanache, a pair of first inning solo homers from Shosisi and Rolei did the trick, and an unearned run scored on a dropped throw E3 by Karwo in the third.

Round 3:
..Sh.Eagles 4-1 Hokrof - 2-10, 4-1, 7-6, 6-2, 6-5
....Nokelto 2-3 Kepmem - 1-12, 8-12, 10-9, 3-4, 11-9(11)
.....Keleri 1-4 Fampalo - 1-5, 11-4, 2-3, 0-1, 8-10
...Westline 1-4 Pasataki - 2-9, 0-6, 2-9, 7-12, 8-7
..A.Spirits 3-2 Amnanache - 8-3, 0-3, 1-6, 6-5(11), 7-4
...National 2-3 Kupore - 2-4, 4-5, 0-2, 9-3, 8-2
...Akashemo 2-3 Mithazni - 5-1, 5-4, 2-3, 5-8, 6-7
Mighty Oaks 4-1 Sitache - 5-3, 16-2, 4-1, 3-5, 7-6
....Cheshek 4-1 Lutrul - 13-6, 10-2, 5-6(10), 9-8(12), 5-4
.....Tsapna 2-3 Otahel City - 10-3, 5-6, 6-2, 2-4, 2-4


Pasataki Galaxy 6, Westline 0: the season's first shutout is thrown by Pasataki SP Sopota Tsimpese, holding Westline to 6 singles.

Nokelto Scouts 11, Kepmem 9: Nokelto SS Otsiku Nyru was 6 for 6 in this game, willing Nokelto to a much needed win (this brought them to 3-12 on the season). Kepmem rallied from down 5-2 and 7-4 to tie the game off of Scouts closer Tsykuka Mosaka in the 9th. A pinch-hit homer for Rekis Fatsi, who started 149 games for the Scouts last year but has been relegated to bench duty so far, won the game in the 11th.


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


Mighty Oaks 7, Otahel City 1: Not a shutout, but Notsimi Feshasu throws a complete game with 0 ER, allowing an unearned run thanks to Metsifu Olufapo throwing the ball into center field on a steal attempt. Olufapo, for his part, would atone by hitting a go-ahead 3-run homer in the third inning.

Sitache 14, Cheshek 4: Sitache 2B Rypa Riali nearly matched Atsi Keana's 9-RBI game last week with 8 in this game. All 8 RBI were managed in a span of three innings, a 5th-inning grand slam followed by a pair of two-run singles in the 6th and 7th. Sitache scored 12 of their 14 runs in that span as well.

Nokelto Scouts 5, Kupore 3: In this series finale, Nokelto CF Lara Tsimelefo smashed his 400th Elite League home run, a two-run bomb to left field in the fourth inning. He added a two-run triple in the 6th that gave Nokelto the lead for good. Tsimelefo, as mentioned in the Scouts preview, nearly broke the EL single season home run record with Kupore in 2015, with his 79 falling short of Setsu Tsuefo's record of 81 set in 1996. His chase, alongside National's Tejumpu Rei (now of Westline) who also had 79, is by far the closest that anyone has gotten in the 21st century. Tsimelefo is just 24, the big chase having happened in his age-18 season. He actually has 458 total career home runs, but that includes one season that he played in the Second League.

Standings.......W..L
+2 ....Cheshek 15 5
+7 Mighty Oaks 14 6
-2 .....Kepmem 13 7
-2 .....Keleri 12 8
-- ...Pasataki 12 8
-- ....Fampalo 12 8
-3 ...Akashemo 11 9
+6 ..Sh.Eagles 11 9
-1 ..Amnanache 11 9
+2 .....Tsapna 10 10
+4 ...National .9 11
+1 .....Kupore .9 11
-3 ...Westline .9 11
-3 ...Mithazni .9 11
+1 .....Hokrof .8 12
+2 ..A.Spirits .8 12
10 ....Sitache .8 12
-----------------------------
-1 Otahel City .8 12
+1 ....Nokelto .6 14
-1 .....Lutrul .5 15


Only Cheshek and Mighty Oaks have won all four of their series. Cheshek has a pretty soft schedule until they play Keleri and Mighty Oaks back to back at the end of April, so they could continue to lead the line for a bit.

Tougher start for Tsapna, who had a difficult beginning to their season but also lost their series at Otahel City this week. Getting a chance to come back home & whoop on Mithazni might have reset them, though.

Big intrigue this week if you're a fan of BK Kepmem. They will face off with two of the game's giants, attempting to see whether their solid start is something real. That'll include left fielder Faruo Ayekrea's return to Oaks Park, where he played the last three years.

Round 5:
Keleri vs. Kepmem
Akashemo vs. Otahel City
Shunna Eagles vs. Sitache
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Nokelto Scouts vs. Lutrul
Mighty Oaks vs. Kupore
Cheshek vs. Hokrof
Westline vs. Mithazni
National vs. Fampalo
Tsapna vs. Amnanache

Round 6:
Hokrof vs. Westline
Amnanache vs. Nokelto Scouts
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Akashemo
Sitache vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Fampalo vs. Cheshek
Otahel City vs. National
Kupore vs. Tsapna
Mithazni vs. Keleri
Lutrul vs. Shunna Eagles
Kepmem vs. Mighty Oaks

[Ruwisc]

Week 3: March 25-April 5

Featured game:
March 28: National vs. Fampalo - Tacha Rinuka (0-1, 3.86) vs. Filashe Sikepo (2-2, 8.31)
NAT: LF Rorale, 1B Rehefeo, CF Sipet, RF Kakosuta, SS Mikesash, 3B Yelishike, 2B Kepi, C Sichi, P Rinuka
FAM: 2B Tisoki, LF Sofiulo, SS Tofpalts, CF Chewefa, 1B Yutepe, 3B Tyzhite, C Shyletsa, RF Kishawua, P Sikepo

National 300 201 053 14 18 0
.Fampalo 113 300 003 11 13 0
W: Kiro Ponarf (1-1) L: Pilau Kechanu (0-2)
PotG: Pumona Kakosuta - 4-5, 4 HR, 6 RBI

Pumona Kakosuta becomes just the eighth player to hit four home runs in an EL game (though it has been done nine times, thanks to the great SS Teshepo Popa doing it twice). He is the first to do so in eleven years, the last being Kechi Oifi of the Alilia Captains on June 4, 2011. Like in MLB, no player has ever hit five HR in an EL game, but it has been done 15 times in Lokasi history throughout tiers 5-11.

It could not have been accomplished without the help of his teammates, who kept the line moving. Kakosuta's first HR was a three-run shot, giving National their 3-0 first-inning lead. The others were all solo markers, in the 6th, 8th, and 9th innings. He could have had substantially more RBI, but he was actually leading off in all three of those innings!

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


Westline 5, Mithazni 0: Just three days after Nokelto's Lara Tsimelefo accomplished it, Westline 2B Tejumpu Rei hit his 400th Elite League home run in this shutout victory. Rei, 29, hit his first 395 EL homers in a National uniform from 2010-2016, then joined Westline in the Second League and did not return to the EL until Westline were promoted. This was actually his 727th career home run for that reason, but the 400-homer mark at the top level is worth celebrating too. We're likely to see 2-3 more players hit this milestone this season. As mentioned in the last post, Rei and Tsimelefo competed against one another to try to break the single-season record in 2015.

Westline 13, Mithazni 12: A weird, wild one. Westline stormed out to a 3-0 first inning lead, but Mithazni SS Anesa Pasisheto responded with a grand slam in the bottom half. As Westline then took leads of 7-4, 9-6, and 11-7, Mithazni continued to fight back, and in the bottom of the 9th star figure LF Lope Shosotsoke hit a game-tying grand slam to make it 11-11, the second salami for his team on the night. But that only got them to extras, where Westline was able to push across their one extra in the 11th inning.

Nokelto 6, Lutrul 5: Nokelto SS Otsiku Nyru is the second player to hit for the cycle this season. There were only 3 cycles last season, but same as this year, two in March. Nyru hit his cycle in reverse order, homering in the third inning and tripling, doubling and singling every other inning after that. Lucky his team was on the road, so he actually got to hit in the 9th inning.

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


Pasataki Galaxy 10, Akashemo 0 and Pasataki Galaxy 8, Akashemo 1: back-to-back multi-homer days for Galaxy SS Atsi Keana, who is making an early MVP case despite missing 9 games last and this week with a minor injury. The Pasataki lineup has been as advertised, leading the league in run scoring.

Standings..........W..L
+1 Mighty Oaks 22 8
-1 ....Cheshek 22 8
+1 .....Keleri 18 12
+1 ...Pasataki 18 12
+5 .....Tsapna 17 13
+5 ...National 17 13
-4 .....Kepmem 17 13
+5 ...Westline 16 14
-2 ...Akashemo 16 14
-4 ....Fampalo 16 14
-3 ..Sh.Eagles 15 15
-3 ..Amnanache 15 15
+4 ....Sitache 13 17
+2 ..A.Spirits 12 18
-3 .....Kupore 12 18
+3 ....Nokelto 12 18
-2 .....Hokrof 11 19
-----------------------------
-- Otahel City 11 19
-5 ...Mithazni 11 19
-- .....Lutrul .9 21


Cheshek and Mighty Oaks are now four games clear of the rest of the pack. That doesn't mean anything, necessarily, but that's what sticks out.

For week 4, round 7 features another matchup of the four preseason favorites, similar to round 1, with Oaks/National and Keleri/Tsapna, and in round 8 National visit Keleri. That'll be the last matchup of this group of teams until round 26 (!), so I could see a scenario in which they start to really take off starting in week 5.

Round 7:
Mithazni vs. Hokrof
Sitache vs. Otahel City
Nokelto Scouts vs. Shunna Eagles
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Amnanache
Kepmem vs. Fampalo
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Westline
Cheshek vs. Akashemo
Mighty Oaks vs. National
Lutrul vs. Kupore
Keleri vs. Tsapna

Round 8:
Westline vs. Cheshek
Tsapna vs. Nokelto Scouts
Kupore vs. Aroketsil Spirits
National vs. Keleri
Fampalo vs. Lutrul
Amnanache vs. Sitache
Otahel City vs. Mithazni
Akashemo vs. Kepmem
Shunna Eagles vs. Mighty Oaks
Hokrof vs. Pasataki Galaxy

[Ruwisc]

Week 4: April 6-17

Featured game:
April 9: Keleri BC (19-13) vs. Tsapna BC (18-14) – Sleta Chulosaleta (1-2, 3.90) vs. Orotsi Tselsiko (0-0, 7.20)
Keleri: 1B Rarasahiu, 3B Tsefufalayo, RF Raseke, C Pufosa, LF Sofiulo, 2B Kumoyo, CF Nysika, SS Solicha, P Chulosaleta
Tsapna: RF Tashete, LF Setatoe, 2B El, 1B Ifata, 3B Timaere, SS Nysotof, CF Rolei, C Fatohatse, P Tselsiko

Keleri 002 000 004 1 .. 7 10 0
Tsapna 013 110 000 0 .. 6 .8 0
W: Tsarase Tsofonisi (3-0) L: Fumiecho Hakoheso (1-1) S: Chysho Sofiulo (6)
PotG: Orotsi Tselsiko - 5 innings, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K

A dramatic 9th-inning comeback ruins what would have been 26-year-old Orotsi Tselsiko's first EL win in his second start filling in for the injured Setsinak Perano – I missed this last week, but Tsapna's #3 starter is done for the year.

With the first two games of the series split, Tsapna looked to be on their way to taking a second win before a storm of five 9th-inning hits against Filashe Shotso and Chomapu Tofepo, typically Tsapna's reliable 7th- and 8th-inning relievers, suddenly tied the game. 16-year-old Hakoheso, Tsapna's big amateur free agent signing in the offseason, took the L by allowing the zombie runner to score in the 10th.

Round 7:
...Mithazni 3-2 Hokrof - 2-1, 2-5, 4-2, 5-6, 9-6
....Sitache 2-3 Otahel City - 6-5, 12-3, 2-6, 5-6, 2-3
....Nokelto 1-4 Sh.Eagles - 4-10, 6-9, 1-10, 4-1, 0-1
...Pasataki 2-3 Amnanache - 0-1, 8-3, 5-6, 7-2, 1-6
.....Kepmem 2-3 Fampalo - 17-10, 4-6, 2-5, 8-5, 4-5
..A.Spirits 2-3 Westline - 2-4, 6-9, 6-3, 6-2, 9-7
....Cheshek 4-1 Akashemo - 0-4, 2-1(10), 1-0, 8-4, 11-5
Mighty Oaks 2-3 National - 6-1, 1-5, 8-12, 7-10, 6-3
.....Lutrul 3-2 Kupore - 1-2, 3-2, 7-4, 4-5, 7-4
.....Keleri 4-1 Tsapna - 3-2, 6-7, 7-6(10), 5-3, 1-0


Kepmem 17, Fampalo 10: a 3-homer game for Kepmem's star 3B Kala Koshynae, who by week's end would take over the league lead in homers with 18. That may be the expected outcome, with Koshynae having led the EL in homers each year from 2018-2020. Despite having over 300 career home runs in just 7 seasons, this was Kala's first career 3-homer game. He would add another two bombs in the series' fourth game, an 8-5 win.

Round 8:
...Westline 2-3 Cheshek - 4-5, 7-8(11), 8-3, 2-1, 2-5
.....Tsapna 4-1 Nokelto - 2-6, 6-1, 10-2, 10-6(10), 5-3
.....Kupore 2-3 A.Spirits - 0-7, 4-2, 3-8, 2-5, 1-0
...National 2-3 Keleri - 1-4, 3-5, 5-1, 3-1, 0-5
....Fampalo 1-4 Lutrul - 0-5, 0-4, 9-6, 4-13, 4-5(11)
..Amnanache 1-4 Sitache - 5-6, 1-5, 3-6, 3-7, 2-1
Otahel City 3-2 Mithazni - 3-5, 7-2, 2-4, 1-0, 4-2
...Akashemo 2-3 Kepmem - 6-16, 9-7, 4-7, 8-12, 2-0
..Sh.Eagles 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 1-6, 2-4, 5-3, 4-11, 3-7
.....Hokrof 2-3 Pasataki - 8-5, 6-5, 1-11, 3-9, 1-10


Kupore 1, Aroketsil Spirits 0: a tough-luck loss for the Spirits' SP Lalasu Mpetu, who threw 8 innings with 0 ER and was saddled with the L anyway, thanks to an error on SS Wasi Tsewayo leading to the game's only run in the first inning.

Standings..........W.L
+1 ....Cheshek 29 11
-1 Mighty Oaks 28 12
-- .....Keleri 25 15
-- ...Pasataki 23 17
-- .....Tsapna 22 18
-- ...National 22 18
-- .....Kepmem 22 18
-- ...Westline 20 20
+2 ..Sh.Eagles 20 20
-- ....Fampalo 20 20
+2 ....Sitache 19 21
-- ..Amnanache 19 21
-4 ...Akashemo 19 21
-- ..A.Spirits 18 22
+3 Otahel City 17 23
+4 .....Lutrul 16 24
-2 .....Kupore 16 24
-----------------------------
+1 ...Mithazni 16 24
-2 .....Hokrof 15 25
-4 ....Nokelto 14 26


Is Cheshek for real? They have not yet played a single team whose record is above .500, so I'll wait to make my judgement. Luckily, we won't have to wait long - in week 5, Cheshek visit Keleri and then host the Oaks. Elsewhere, there's a midtable Chastara derby in round 9 with Sitache making the short trip to Fampalo.

Let's give Keleri a hand as well - they had quite a tough schedule this week and went 7-3 against the pair of Tsapna and National.

Round 9:
Sitache vs. Fampalo
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Tsapna
Amnanache vs. Lutrul
Otahel City vs. Kepmem
Mithazni vs. Kupore
Akashemo vs. Shunna Eagles
Westline vs. Mighty Oaks
Cheshek vs. Keleri
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Nokelto Scouts
Hokrof vs. National

Round 10:
Keleri vs. Amnanache
Kepmem vs. Mithazni
Mighty Oaks vs. Cheshek
Shunna Eagles vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Fampalo vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Lutrul vs. Hokrof
Nokelto Scouts vs. Otahel City
Kupore vs. Westline
Tsapna vs. Sitache
National vs. Akashemo

[Ruwisc]

Week 5: April 18-29

Featured game:
April 20: Westline BC (20-21) vs. Mighty Oaks BC (29-12) - Uriyoko Tselsiko (4-3, 4.53) vs. Siteno Aefep (4-2, 4.05)
Westline: SS Chirao, 1B Peshesonere, RF Mukuapi, 2B Rei, C Posheni, LF Pishot, 3B Futatse, CF Tsuefo, P Tselsiko
Mighty Oaks: 3B Kilutsa, LF Misha, RF Sefenera, 1B Awia, C Olufapo, CF Kylchi, 2B Rikokira, SS Mametsiu, P Aefep

...Westline 200 000 100 .. 3 11 0
Mighty Oaks 010 000 000 .. 1 .5 0
W: Uriyoko Tselsiko (5-3) L: Siteno Aefep (4-3) S: Maho Narupu (10)
PotG: Uriyoko Tselsiko - 8 innings, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 BB

In the absence of any obvious game of the week candidates, a dominant performance from the individual player who I am most tracking (see the February transactions report). Tselsiko allowed just one run on a homer by Metsifu Olufapo, and scattered his other baserunners. The Westline lineup, for their part, also did their scoring via the long ball, Nina Mukuapi in the first inning and Atel Chirao in the seventh.

April 18: on the first day of the new week, Kupore announced that SP Moi Niloni is done for the season, having torn his rotator cuff in his last start. He will get most of the offseason fully healthy, but likely no chance of him making it back by mid-October.

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


Nokelto Scouts 5, Aroketsil Spirits 2: I mentioned a few more of these were coming – Nokelto catcher Taliha Popa hit his 400th Elite League home run in this win. Lara Tsimelefo added two homers of his own, having just hit the same milestone a couple of weeks ago.

Round 10:
.....Keleri 2-3 Amnanache - 5-1, 2-7, 5-2, 1-4, 7-8(10)
.....Kepmem 4-1 Mithazni - 11-8, 11-2, 5-2, 3-4, 8-5
Mighty Oaks 2-3 Cheshek - 1-2, 5-4, 5-3, 2-4, 2-3(11)
..Sh.Eagles 1-4 A.Spirits - 1-3, 3-9, 2-7, 9-3, 3-6
....Fampalo 3-2 Pasataki - 6-4(11), 1-3, 6-3, 7-1, 1-16
.....Lutrul 2-3 Hokrof - 6-1, 4-6, 4-2, 0-4, 5-11
....Nokelto 3-2 Otahel City - 7-5, 11-5, 6-5, 3-7, 0-7
.....Kupore 2-3 Westline - 2-4, 6-8, 5-2, 4-0, 1-2(10)
.....Tsapna 3-2 Sitache - 5-2(10), 5-6, 5-3(10), 10-8, 3-8
...National 3-2 Akashemo - 4-0, 2-3, 10-1, 6-8, 3-2


Amnanache 7, Keleri 2: A sprained knee will cost Keleri CF Rarehimi Pohyfe until the middle of June. The 30-year-old is coming off a career year, hitting a career-best 27 EL homers and winning his first Gold Glove.

Keleri 5, Amnanache 2: If that was bad, this is worse for the green and gray. Keleri SP Sleta Chulosaleta left tonight's game in the 5th inning, with what turned out to be a partial UCL tear. He is choosing not to have Tommy John surgery but will still miss the remainder of the season.

Otahel City 7, Nokelto Scouts 3: And if that was worse, this is the pits. Otahel ace SP Pika Sopota completely blew out his elbow on a pitch to Scouts SS Myna Mote, so badly that his career has come to an end. Sopota, 22, was in his 7th professional season and second season in Otahel, following stints with the Killitash Stars (2L, SPL) and Fampalo. A native of Penhara, signing with Otahel City was his chance to get EL innings close-ish to his hometown. Funnily, he threw no-hitters in both 2020 and 2021, with different teams, and in different leagues, but against the same opponent! He no-hit Wikyats Athletic with Fampalo, then after Wikyats were relegated, he no-hit them in the 2L last year with Otahel. Let's hope he becomes a coach someday.

As for his club, the loss really stings. Sopota was, nominally, the Otahel ace, and pitching was supposed to be their stronger side of the ball. Long reliever Lala Awia has been promoted to the rotation - he's only allowed 1 run in 18 2/3 innings this season across 14 appearances, so a pretty good record in his first year of EL play. He'll make his first start in game 4 of the next series vs. Lutrul.

Standings..........W..L
+1 Mighty Oaks 34 16
-1 ....Cheshek 34 16
-- .....Keleri 30 20
+2 ...National 30 20
-- .....Tsapna 28 22
+1 .....Kepmem 28 22
-3 ...Pasataki 27 23
+2 ....Fampalo 26 24
+4 ...Akashemo 25 25
+4 ..A.Spirits 24 26
-3 ...Westline 24 26
-- ..Amnanache 24 26
-2 ....Sitache 23 27
-5 ..Sh.Eagles 22 28
-- Otahel City 22 28
-- .....Lutrul 21 29
-- .....Kupore 20 30
-----------------------------
-- ...Mithazni 20 30
+1 ....Nokelto 20 30
-1 .....Hokrof 18 32


Overall across the league, the story of Week 5 was devastating injuries. But, Cheshek have to feel pretty good about their week, holding level with a 5-5 week against the league's two most prestigious teams (in my opinion).

Statistically, I find it interesting that of the only 3 sweeps recorded thus far through 10 rounds of play, none were done by the two teams with a 4-game cushion atop the league. Instead, Keleri has one over Nokelto, and National has now swept both Otahel and Hokrof.

Here's the week 6 lineup - I'm looking out for the Spirits this week, who have rebounded a little from their poor start and sit in 10th place. Can they keep it up against National and Tsapna?

Round 11:
Akashemo vs. Keleri
Mithazni vs. Mighty Oaks
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Nokelto Scouts
Cheshek vs. Shunna Eagles
Sitache vs. Kepmem
Amnanache vs. Kupore
Otahel City vs. Lutrul
Aroketsil Spirits vs. National
Hokrof vs. Fampalo
Westline vs. Tsapna

Round 12:
Shunna Eagles vs. Mithazni
Lutrul vs. Akashemo
Mighty Oaks vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Fampalo vs. Otahel City
Kupore vs. Hokrof
Kepmem vs. Amnanache
Nokelto Scouts vs. Cheshek
National vs. Sitache
Keleri vs. Westline
Tsapna vs. Aroketsil Spirits

We are past the quarter pole of the season, so next post will be a stats + lower leagues update!

[Ruwisc]

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.

----------

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
-----------------------------
..........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
-----------------------------
...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
-----------------------------
........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
-----------------------------
......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
-----------------------------
.........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
-----------------------------
....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.

[Ruwisc]

Week 6: April 30-May 11

Featured game: Hokrof BC (18-33) vs. Fampalo BC (27-24)
May 2: Meteshu Tekuwo (2-4, 3.26) vs. Pecho Tsytemoi (1-6, 4.23)
HOK: 2B Chyralo, SS Imatsa, 1B Tuemole, LF Wapatsite, CF Aoko, RF F. Sofiulo, C Rekute, 3B Layaka, P Tekuwo
FAM: 2B Tisoki, 1B Tufsu, SS Tofpalts, RF Chewefa, LF S. Sofiulo, 3B Tyzhite, C Shyletsa, CF Uyeshu, P Tsytemoi

.Hokrof 004 302 601 .. 16 14 1
Fampalo 213 301 322 .. 17 16 1
W: Peu Chokehike (1-0) L: Chiamo Wirilen (0-3)
PotG: Fekiu Imatsa (HOK) - 3-4, 2B, HR(5), BB, 5 RBI, 3 R

One of the wildest games I can remember seeing. 30 hits, 16 walks, 4 hit batters, and 2 errors produced 33 runs. Hokrof batters hit 5 home runs; Fampalo runners stole 5 bases. Hokrof led by as many as 5 runs, while Fampalo blew 4 different leads before walking it off. Hokrof fans will have felt that Ouler Tuemole's grand slam in the 7th inning, which made it 15-10, was the death blow, but a pair of dink-and-dunk rallies tied the game again for Fampalo. Pinch-hitter Kiucha Lopelo broke the deadlock for Hokrof with a home run, but Fampalo won the game without making an out on 3 singles to tie, a HBP to load the bases, and the walkoff single by Tyzhite.

Round 9:
...Akashemo 3-2 Keleri - 4-3, 6-4, 2-6, 2-5, 3-2(10)
...Mithazni 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 1-4, 4-6, 2-3, 3-0, 0-8
...Pasataki 2-3 Nokelto - 4-5, 4-2, 10-0, 5-10, 5-6
....Cheshek 3-2 Sh.Eagles - 5-1, 6-2, 6-4, 0-5, 2-10
....Sitache 1-4- Kepmem - 0-3, 3-6, 4-5(10), 4-5, 6-4
..Amnanache 2-3 Kupore - 3-5, 7-5, 9-2, 1-2, 1-10
Otahel City 1-4 Lutrul - 2-4, 2-11, 12-8, 4-8, 2-12
..A.Spirits 3-2 National - 6-5, 5-4, 6-9, 7-3, 0-8
.....Hokrof 2-3 Fampalo - 1-7, 16-17, 5-6, 3-1, 6-5
...Westline 1-4 Tsapna - 1-3, 3-6, 3-5, 8-4(10), 0-3


Kupore 10, Amnanache 1: Kupore SP Rattio Ayawetsi throws a real gem, pitching into the 9th inning and allowing just an unearned run in that 9th inning. Only 1 strikeout for the 19-year-old but effective nonetheless.

Round 10:
..Sh.Eagles 3-2 Mithazni - 13-11(10), 1-3, 5-3, 12-4, 4-7
.....Lutrul 4-1 Akashemo - 3-2(10), 8-1, 6-2, 10-1, 4-6
Mighty Oaks 1-4 Pasataki - 3-4, 3-14, 4-7, 3-6, 18-1
....Fampalo 2-3 Otahel City - 1-5, 7-5, 2-3, 3-5, 3-2(10)
.....Kupore 4-1 Hokrof - 8-4, 7-9, 9-8, 7-4(10), 10-8
.....Kepmem 3-2 Amnanache - 5-2, 2-4, 9-2, 1-3, 6-1
....Nokelto 2-3 Cheshek - 1-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-0, 1-3
...National 4-1 Sitache - 9-8(10), 13-8, 4-3(10), 10-3, 6-12
.....Keleri 2-3 Westline - 2-4, 7-4(10), 2-15, 5-7, 6-1
.....Tsapna 1-4 A.Spirits - 6-8, 3-2, 3-5, 2-4, 4-5


Shunna Eagles 13, Mithazni 11: a game that was also under consideration for a weekly feature. The Eagles jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind their top pitcher, Toe Kachefe, and when he exited the score was 8-2. Mithazni got a solo homer to get one back in the 7th, then with two out in the 8th and one on, six straight hitters in gold reached base, enough to give the hosts a 9-8 lead. Teriwoma Etoso tied the game with a 9th-inning leadoff homer, then both teams staged 10th inning rallies. Mithazni had two runs in and the tying runs in scoring position in the bottom of the 10th, only to see Eagles pitcher Lolerera Humeiwa, newly installed as the closer, strike out three straight to seal the win.

Pasataki Galaxy 14, Mighty Oaks 3: Another monster game for Galaxy SS Atsi Keana, who retakes the EL lead in RBI with this two-homer, 8 RBI performance. Keana had an early RBI single that tied the game, hit a grand slam his second time up, and added a 3-run shot in the 8th inning that sealed up this win over the champs. The Galaxy would win four straight against Mighty Oaks before a series finale they'd rather forget.

Mighty Oaks 18, Pasataki Galaxy 5, and Sitache 12, National 6: two 3-homer performances on the same day, as Oaks 1B Somp Awia and National CF Solo Sipet become the first pair of EL players in over two years to hit 3 HR on the same day. Very different outcomes, as Awia drove in 7, scored an additional run, and saw his team win by seventeen runs, while Sipet got very little help today in a game where his team got crushed.

Standings..........W..L
+1 ....Cheshek 40 20
-1 Mighty Oaks 39 21
+1 ...National 36 24
+2 .....Kepmem 35 25
-2 .....Keleri 34 26
+1 ...Pasataki 33 27
-2 .....Tsapna 33 27
+2 ..A.Spirits 31 29
-1 ....Fampalo 31 29
+6 .....Lutrul 29 31
-2 ...Akashemo 29 31
-1 ...Westline 28 32
-1 ..Amnanache 28 32
-- ..Sh.Eagles 27 33
+2 .....Kupore 27 33
-1 Otahel City 26 34
-4 ....Sitache 25 35
-----------------------------
+1 ....Nokelto 25 35
-1 ...Mithazni 23 37
-- .....Hokrof 21 39


This is shaping up to be quite an interesting race so far, with the season nearly a third of the way over. Cheshek now hold a slim lead, and this week even saw fellow underdogs Kepmem jumping back up toward the top. Speaking of which, those two will face off for the first time in 2025 this coming week, alongside the year's first Aroketsil derby and an interesting Pasataki-Keleri matchup.

Round 13:
Otahel City vs. Kupore
Hokrof vs. Tsapna
Mithazni vs. Fampalo
Amnanache vs. Shunna Eagles
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Mighty Oaks
Akashemo vs. Nokelto Scouts
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Keleri
Sitache vs. Lutrul
Cheshek vs. Kepmem
Westline vs. National

Round 14:
Tsapna vs. Lutrul
Mithazni vs. Pasataki Galaxy
National vs. Nokelto Scouts
Kepmem vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Mighty Oaks vs. Akashemo
Keleri vs. Shunna Eagles
Kupore vs. Cheshek
Fampalo vs. Amnanache
Westline vs. Sitache
Otahel City vs. Hokrof

[Ruwisc]

Week 7: May 12-23

It's trade deadline week! The deadline is on its customary date of May 15, which happens to be almost exactly the 1/3 mark of the season. Because it's fairly early, there aren't a lot of high-impact deals. Here's a summary of what went down at the 2022 deadline:

May 12: Sitache, already a little shorthanded on the hitting side of things due to a couple of injuries, have traded starting shortstop Saepacha Koachali to 4th-tier Shepero Bulls for catcher Mapisiu Tayur. Tayur is cheap, and not totally unfit for EL play, but he is Sitache's third catcher. In a sign of how poor a decision this was, Tayur started several games at shortstop this week.

May 13: Hokrof trade starting RF Fakaki Sofiulo to the sixth-tier Akashemo Clippers, Akashemo's "other team", for bench bat Lamaeku Salohela and a nondescript pitcher. This is a cost-cutting move for Hokrof, who get their budget back into the black by shedding Sofiulo's $3 million salary, even at 80% retention. Kiucha Lopelo steps into the starting 9. Hopefully they have a cheap free agent in mind - weakening their squad to save a little cash is not such a great idea while you're in the relegation zone.

May 13: One to keep in the back of your head for the future. Keleri trade a very strong left-handed SP prospect named Oaku Sahylu to Second League strugglers Onesti to acquire bullpen depth in the form of Setsinak Kaimala. Kaimala's salary is also being covered by Onesti as Keleri are over budget. Sahylu has "best in the world" potential if he develops properly. Unlike the other deals here, I totally get this for both sides, but I really like Onesti's side of this deal. Kaimala is cheap enough to pay for, and Sahylu could be the guy that gets them to the EL for the first time in club history.

May 15: Mithazni trade SP Micha Mpetu, their #3 starter, to Second League Tishmin BC for SP prospect Hypuse Loap. Mithazni are covering Mpetu's whole salary, so there's no reason to do this unless you really believe in Loap as a prospect. I do not.

That's all, really. A couple of teams embarrassing themselves here in the name of short-term financial safety, which all makes sense to me. There were a few more even less important deals involving fringe relievers, but less than 10 trades total.

Featured game: May 19 - BK Kepmem (40-25) @ Aroketsil Spirits (31-34)
Suwet Shosotsoke (4-0, 2.95) vs. Like Seafofis (5-2, 3.52)
KEP: RF Pishot, LF Ayekrea, 1B Kino, 3B Koshynae, SS Natso, 2B Ramukosho, CF Mametsiu, C Lasiye, P Shosotsoke
ASPI: SS Tsewayo, 2B Womoipo, 3B Rekesu, 1B Karwo, LF Tsesahem, RF Lumafi, CF Nesatapame, C Kuishuchutso, P Nisho (opener)

.Kepmem 010 214 002 ...10 10 0
Spirits 300 002 040 ....9 11 0
W: Sohika Rekute (3-0) L: Santa Chefisa (2-3) S: Uteuche Rolei (21)
PotG: Lia Tsesahem - 2-4, 2 HR(10), 5 RBI

The Kepmem rotation hasn't been as bad as expected – just 15th in starters' ERA rather than dead last as expected – but they're still shuffling guys in and out. Shosotsoke was actually shuffled out of the rotation after this game in favor of Latsal Kaliye, who has also been the closer at points this year.

Today, it was the Spirits' Like Seafofis who was knocked around, allowing 7 runs in just 3.2 innings after coming in to start the 3rd. There was a big power output in this game, as you would expect with the combination of the league's two best home run hitters (Kala Koshynae and Rolana Rekesu), both of whom homered in this game. Lia Tsesahem's 3-run home run, his second jack of the game, in the bottom of the 8th inning gave Aroketsil a 9-8 lead. But, down to their final out, Koshynae's time to bat came up and he smashed a double off the wall deep in center field, scoring Pishot and Kino to provide the winning margin.

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


A staggering four sweeps in round 13, including surprise title challenger Cheshek dropping five straight one-run games (while holding a lead in all five games at some point). The year's first Aroketsil derby also ended in a sweep for Mighty Oaks, all five games being won by two runs exactly.

Tsapna 10, Hokrof 7: Another career-ending pitching injury, this time to Hokrof's #2 starter Meteshu Tekuwo, suffered in the third inning of this game as Tekuwo had just allowed Tsapna to take a 3-1 lead. Tekuwo, 23, accrued an 18-26 EL record with this being his third season with Hokrof. He previously made 106 starts for BK Swans Menmapa in the 2L and SPL over four seasons, winning 21 games in their promotion push of 2016.

Tsapna 7, Hokrof 0: Literally adding insult to injury, Tsapna's SP Lomunu Awia shuts out Hokrof today while striking out 10 and allowing just 5 baserunners. Awia is slightly past his prime, but you still see how he won Pitcher of the Year four times in the 2010s.

Lutrul 10, Sitache 3: Despite the win, Lutrul star CF Ipitashi Rerawe is set for another lengthy IL stint, this time a sprained thumb from sliding that will keep him out until early July. Rerawe, a 5-time MVP, only played 54 games last season, and has played in just 49 of Lutrul's 65 to this point this season.

Round 14:
.....Tsapna 3-2 Lutrul - 5-2, 4-5, 2-5, 7-3, 8-0
...Mithazni 0-5 Pasataki - 4-11, 1-9, 0-18, 1-7, 4-7
...National 4-1 Nokelto - 4-0, 10-3, 4-2, 7-0, 1-7
.....Kepmem 2-3 A.Spirits - 10-9, 10-9, 2-8, 2-5, 2-3
Mighty Oaks 2-3 Akashemo - 6-2, 1-2, 4-1, 0-3, 2-7
.....Keleri 2-3 Sh.Eagles - 8-4, 3-6(11), 4-2, 4-5, 2-3(11)
.....Kupore 1-4 Cheshek - 8-2, 2-7, 6-10, 7-8, 0-4
....Fampalo 1-4 Amnanache - 2-8, 0-2, 4-9, 3-4(10), 4-2
...Westline 3-2 Sitache - 8-1, 2-6, 4-9, 2-1, 5-4
Otahel City 2-3 Hokrof - 12-3, 0-11, 4-7(11), 6-1, 6-9


Cheshek stabilize against Kupore, though National pass them by extending their win streak to nine games before finally dropping the week's finale (having had a chance to pull level with the Oaks).

Tsapna 5, Lutrul 2: the day after losing their CF to medium-term injury, Lutrul lose SP Shina Kemo for the season to a torn labrum. It's expected to cost him half of the 2023 season as well. Kemo came into the season as Lutrul's top starter, but had been absolutely dreadful in 10 starts with an ERA north of 7. He's had a real tough go of it since signing a free agent deal with Lutrul in the 2020-21 offseason, having previously been pretty good for the Spirits.

National 7, Nokelto Scouts 0: National CF Solo Sipet has his second 3-homer game in as many weeks, this time victimizing opener Tynafelo Wulowai and then hitting two off of Sae Nafoe. Sipet drove in six of National's 7 runs on those bombs. He'll push himself into the MVP discussion as the season continues - certainly a valuable signing for National despite the bidding war his free agency set off.

Tsapna 8, Lutrul 0: Another Tsapna shutout for the week, this one for reigning EL Pitcher of the Year Sefti Merefife. It was tough as far as shutouts go – 7 hits and 2 walks allowed, and a relatively high pitch count of 118.

Standings.......W..L
+1 Mighty Oaks 46 24
+1 ...National 45 25
-2 ....Cheshek 44 26
-- .....Kepmem 42 28
+1 ...Pasataki 41 29
+1 .....Tsapna 39 31
-2 .....Keleri 38 32
+1 ....Fampalo 37 33
+1 .....Lutrul 35 35
+3 ..Amnanache 35 35
-- ...Akashemo 35 35
-4 ..A.Spirits 34 36
+1 ..Sh.Eagles 32 38
+1 .....Kupore 32 38
-3 ...Westline 31 39
-- Otahel City 29 41
-- ....Sitache 28 42
-----------------------------
-- ....Nokelto 28 42
+1 .....Hokrof 26 44
-1 ...Mithazni 23 47


A gigantic week for National, losing just once and climbing up to 2nd place. Overall, this is looking like a much more interesting title race than we had in 2021. I can see a scenario where any of the top 7 teams win it all.

Meanwhile, a winless week for Mithazni is a bummer. They have a chance to get back on track early in the week, with Sitache coming in for the next series.

Cheshek @ National in the nation's capital looks like the marquee series of week 8.

Round 15:
Shunna Eagles vs. Fampalo
Cheshek vs. National
Nokelto Scouts vs. Westline
Akashemo vs. Tsapna
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Kupore
Amnanache vs. Otahel City
Lutrul vs. Kepmem
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Keleri
Sitache vs. Mithazni
Hokrof vs. Mighty Oaks

Round 16:
Keleri vs. Hokrof
Kupore vs. Sitache
Otahel City vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Westline vs. Amnanache
Mighty Oaks vs. Nokelto Scouts
Tsapna vs. Shunna Eagles
Mithazni vs. Cheshek
Kepmem vs. Pasataki Galaxy
National vs. Lutrul
Fampalo vs. Akashemo

[Ruwisc]

Week 8: May 24-June 4

Featured game: May 25 - Cheshek BC (44-26) @ National BC (45-25)
Tsysi Fatsi (2-5, 5.30) vs. Santa Ketitu (5-4, 3.09)
CEX: SS Kofmi, 1B Narupu, RF Arachihe, LF Atswue, 3B Awia, C Fomochi, 2B Kiresho, CF Tyheshina, P Fatsi
NAT: 2B Kepi, 1B Rehefeo, CF Sipet, RF Rorale, 3B Yelishike, SS Mikesash, C Seshate, LF Yalai, P Ketitu

.Cheshek 000 000 004 .. 4 5 0
National 000 010 000 .. 1 3 1
W: Nele Shoshau (3-0) L: Fapasile Opopa (3-1) S: Rukakili Shiyetsorisu (13)
PotG: Santa Ketitu - 8 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 11 K, 1 BB

That really says it all, doesn't it? Opopa has only allowed 4 earned runs all season... he was credited with 4 unearned runs and a blown save here. With one out in the 9th, but Cheshek threatening with runners on 2nd and 3rd, a line drive hit by Tukefa Atswue was hit right at Linetsi Leretuto, who had just entered as a defensive replacement on a double switch, into Ketitu's spot in the lineup. He dropped it, allowing the tying run to score, and after a sac fly from Shulohi Awia gave Cheshek the lead, Pusituli Fomochi cranked a two-run shot to right-center for the exclamation point.

Tough luck for Santa Ketitu, who had thrown one of the league's best all-around games of the season.

News from last week: in the Shunna Eagles' week-ending 3-2 win over Keleri last week, Keleri SP Shykim Rekute suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Rekute did not open the season in the rotation, but had filled in nicely with injuries to Sleta Chulosaleta and Somashe Renlese (the latter of whom is now back). Rekute finishes the season with a 2.60 ERA in 6 starts, and a 3-1 record.

The same day, Galaxy shortstop Atsi Keana will miss two months with a sprained ankle. He has been really banged up all season - there are eight entries on his injury history screen for three months of 2022 play, though he's only missed ten games up to this ankle injury. Even at the end of the week, he's the league's RBI leader, so let's hope for no setbacks. The Pasataki lineup is pretty dynamic but he's been clearly their best hitter when available.

Round 15:
..Sh.Eagles 3-2 Fampalo - 4-1, 7-4, 8-9, 7-6, 4-6
....Cheshek 2-3 National - 4-1, 4-3, 0-2, 0-3, 6-9(13)
....Nokelto 2-3 Westline - 1-2(10), 7-4, 3-6, 2-5, 4-3
...Akashemo 2-3 Tsapna - 2-0, 15-7, 0-2(10), 2-3, 3-6
...Pasataki 2-3 Kupore - 5-4, 7-8, 8-7(11), 0-6, 0-13
..Amnanache 0-5 Otahel City - 0-2, 0-4, 1-2, 2-6, 3-5
.....Lutrul 3-2 Kepmem - 6-5, 8-7, 9-4, 3-11, 9-10(13)
..A.Spirits 3-2 Keleri - 2-0, 8-6, 4-10, 1-7, 4-2
....Sitache 2-3 Mithazni - 1-7, 6-7(10), 3-4, 10-6, 11-6
.....Hokrof 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 4-6, 1-11, 3-2, 3-5, 2-14


Akashemo United 2, Tsapna 0: Akashemo SP Tsarase Roshoshe takes a perfect game into the sixth inning, and ultimately only allows one hitter to reach base over 8 sterling innings. Ultimately a two-hitter after another single was recorded off of Chitipa Fyhy in the 9th.

Tsapna 2, Akashemo United 0: Turnabout is fair play - two games later, Lomunu Awia throws a gem in allowing just two hits over 8 2/3 innings. Awia only exited when he hit a batter in the 9th, but it was still a 0-0 game at that moment! There was a rare feat in the 10th inning, as with a "zombie runner" on base, Tsapna pinch-hitter Risei Mosaka cracked a leadoff two-run homer to walk this game off.

Kepmem 10, Lutrul 9 (13 innings): A great performance for Lutrul's catcher Otsiku Kiwarshi in a losing effort. He homered in the 2nd inning, dropped an RBI double in the 3rd and another double in the 5th, then homered to temporarily give Lutrul a 9-7 lead in the 13th inning.

Fampalo 6, Shunna Eagles 4: Fampalo 1B Chasaro Yutepe is done for the season with a torn ACL. Yutepe, 35, has what might be the EL's worst contract, making $8.4 million despite being at replacement level this season and having never reached any of his early-career highlights in three seasons in Fampalo.

Round 16:
.....Keleri 3-2 Hokrof - 8-3, 2-1(10), 7-8(11), 4-5(11), 5-0
.....Kupore 3-2 Sitache - 10-3, 6-1, 4-3, 2-10, 2-6
Otahel City 3-2 A.Spirits - 2-11, 5-1, 6-2, 6-3, 2-4
...Westline 4-1 Amnanache - 2-3(10), 2-1, 8-6, 5-3, 13-6
Mighty Oaks 4-1 Nokelto - 6-1, 5-7, 2-0(10), 3-2, 3-0
.....Tsapna 2-3 Sh.Eagles - 5-1, 3-5, 4-7, 0-7, 6-3(10)
...Mithazni 0-5 Cheshek - 2-4, 2-3(10), 1-11, 1-7, 5-10
.....Kepmem 3-2 Pasataki - 6-2, 9-7(11), 3-7, 8-9(10), 10-7(11)
...National 3-2 Lutrul - 11-4, 3-5, 5-4, 3-0, 2-4
....Fampalo 3-2 Akashemo - 5-11, 5-0, 7-0, 7-4, 7-11

An odd weekend, with 8 of 10 series being won by the away team.

Hokrof 8, Keleri 7 (11 innings): Hokrof C Sisha Rekute had three home runs tonight for the first time at the EL level, and added a productive groundout that led to the walk-off run in the 11th inning. Keleri led this game 7-2 after the top of the 3rd inning, but the home side chipped away, and Rekute's 2-run shot in the 6th and solo shot in the 8th were the final three runs of the comeback before extras.

Sitache 10, Kupore 2: Kupore lose SP Rattio Ayawetsi for the season with shoulder inflammation. Kupore's rotation has been uncharacteristically good, in the top half as far as ERA is considered, with Ayawetsi not one of the top contributors but solid. A couple weeks ago, he garnered a mention for a gem thrown at home against Amnanache.

Keleri 5, Hokrof 0: Another injury blow for Keleri, as 3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo is now out for the season, having started 77 of Keleri's 80 games. It's a back muscle tear, seemingly suffered while sliding into 2nd base on his 7th-inning double. Tsefufayalo was having a down year, with only 8 HR and a league-average 100 OPS+, both big dips from his first two years in Hefem. But he had a pretty high standard, and most EL teams would still take him at 3B.

Standings.........W..L
-- Mighty Oaks 54 26
-- ...National 51 29
-- ....Cheshek 51 29
-- .....Kepmem 47 33
-- ...Pasataki 45 35
-- .....Tsapna 44 36
-- .....Keleri 43 37
-- ....Fampalo 42 38
-- .....Lutrul 40 40
+2 ..A.Spirits 39 41
-- ...Akashemo 39 41
+3 ...Westline 38 42
-- ..Sh.Eagles 38 42
-- .....Kupore 38 42
+1 Otahel City 37 43
-6 ..Amnanache 36 44
-- ....Sitache 32 48
-----------------------------
-- ....Nokelto 31 49
-- .....Hokrof 29 51
-- ...Mithazni 26 54


A disaster week for Amnanache, going 1-9 against teams who were promoted from the 2L. Otherwise, not a lot of jostling in terms of order, but the top group is a lot more spread out than they were a week ago.

Three series coming in the next post; that'll put us at the halfway point. Every team will play the three opponents that they have not yet met. Highlights include a Shunna derby in round 17, and a series each round between the teams ranked #3-6.

Round 17:
Shunna Eagles vs. National
Nokelto Scouts vs. Mithazni
Cheshek vs. Tsapna
Lutrul vs. Westline
Akashemo vs. Kupore
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Otahel City
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Fampalo
Sitache vs. Keleri
Hokrof vs. Kepmem
Amnanache vs. Mighty Oaks

Round 18:
Amnanache vs. Cheshek
Hokrof vs. Akashemo
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Shunna Eagles
Mithazni vs. National
Kupore vs. Keleri
Otahel City vs. Westline
Lutrul vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Fampalo vs. Mighty Oaks
Sitache vs. Nokelto Scouts
Kepmem vs. Tsapna

Round 19:
Mighty Oaks vs. Lutrul
Akashemo vs. Sitache
Cheshek vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Shunna Eagles vs. Kupore
Nokelto Scouts vs. Hokrof
Westline vs. Kepmem
Tsapna vs. Fampalo
National vs. Amnanache
Keleri vs. Otahel City
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Mithazni

[Ruwisc]

Week 9-9.5: June 5-23

Round 17:
..Sh.Eagles 3-2 National - 1-10, 6-3, 4-2, 10-0, 1-4
....Nokelto 4-1 Mithazni - 7-5, 10-7, 11-5(10), 1-2, 7-1
....Cheshek 1-4 Tsapna - 3-6, 3-6, 1-10, 11-4(11), 1-2
.....Lutrul 2-3 Westline - 2-3, 3-5, 6-11, 7-6, 9-8
...Akashemo 3-2 Kupore - 6-3(11), 2-6, 5-1, 6-5(10), 1-8
...Pasataki 3-2 Otahel City - 8-7, 8-1, 3-2, 3-4, 10-13
..A.Spirits 2-3 Fampalo - 1-3, 3-2, 10-1, 9-10, 0-4
....Sitache 1-4 Keleri - 1-5, 2-6, 6-4, 3-5, 1-2
.....Hokrof 2-3 Kepmem - 3-4, 9-8, 6-7, 0-8, 5-2(10)
..Amnanache 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 1-2(10), 2-3, 1-5, 5-3, 4-15


Pasataki Galaxy 8, Otahel City 7: Facing his former club, Otahel LF Maso Ere stroked three homers in this game, including a game-tying solo shot in the 8th inning, bu the Galaxy would rebound to take the game anyway. Ere drove in 5 on the night. He entered the game with just 9 HR on the season, so a bit of a surprise for the 37-year-old, playing in his 13th EL season following stints with the Hefem Rangers (2004-08) and Galaxy (2010-16) mixed in with four other teams.

Round 18:
..Amnanache 2-3 Cheshek - 3-9, 1-4, 4-3, 6-4, 1-9
.....Hokrof 2-3 Akashemo - 0-4, 15-2, 1-8, 8-4, 7-10
...Pasataki 5-0 Sh.Eagles - 6-4(10), 5-1, 7-2, 10-6, 2-1
...Mithazni 0-5 National - 3-12, 0-3, 1-3, 5-10, 2-11
.....Kupore 0-5 Keleri - 0-3, 7-8(10), 4-5, 2-9, 2-3
Otahel City 2-3 Westline - 0-1(10), 7-5, 0-2, 7-5, 1-4
.....Lutrul 2-3 A.Spirits - 3-2, 4-2, 0-6, 3-11, 6-9
....Fampalo 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 6-9, 2-5, 3-0, 3-4, 2-5
....Sitache 3-2 Nokelto - 8-0, 5-6, 5-3, 4-3, 3-4
.....Kepmem 4-1 Tsapna - 10-8, 5-3, 4-3, 2-6, 4-3


Pasataki's 5-game sweep of the Eagles is just the second all season by an away team, a pretty surprising feat.

Sitache 8, Nokelto Scouts 0: a one-hit shutout by Sitache SP Chapeo Mematsa. It's one of the most efficient shutouts I've seen, with only 85 pitches thrown! He even got more efficient as the game went on, throwing just 33 pitches in the final four innings. Nokelto's lone hit was a 3rd-inning single from catcher Siyi Posheni, and they also had a man reach on an error in the 5th - naturally, both on the first pitch.

Pasataki Galaxy 5, Shunna Eagles 1: a season-ending injury for Galaxy starter Shotse Chyliwo, a torn labrum. This rotation has been pretty good, better than expected, but Chyliwo got the opening day nod this year so it's not good news regardless.

June 15: Closer Lisou Nikera resigns with the Pasataki Galaxy, for 3 years and a total of just under $7 million. This is a pretty good bargain for the Galaxy in my opinion, Nikera is an above-average closer and is only 21 years old. He has been the closer ever since being acquired in a 2019 deadline deal with Amnanache. He's never made more than just over the league minimum (his 2022 salary is $580k) so he's probably fine with it.

Keleri 9, Kupore 2: Keleri CF Rarehimi Pohyfe just returned from a sprained knee at the start of this week, winning player of the game honors in the 6-2 win over Sitache, but in this game he sprained the other knee! That'll be another 3-4 weeks on the shelf for the 30-year-old.

Round 19:
Mighty Oaks 4-1 Lutrul - 1-2, 6-0, 6-4, 9-2, 11-7
...Akashemo 0-5 Sitache - 0-6, 2-6, 2-4, 5-8(12), 0-4
....Cheshek 2-3 Pasataki - 5-4, 2-11, 8-3(10), 1-4, 6-7
..Sh.Eagles 2-3 Kupore - 3-5, 8-5, 2-0, 0-2, 7-8
....Nokelto 2-3 Hokrof - 13-2, 3-6, 14-8, 3-8, 2-4(10)
...Westline 1-4 Kepmem - 0-5, 3-4, 4-5(10), 11-0, 3-4(10)
.....Tsapna 3-2 Fampalo - 4-8, 9-2, 2-0, 3-7, 14-0
...National 2-3 Amnanache - 2-6, 1-2, 9-3, 9-1, 3-6
.....Keleri 4-1 Otahel City - 4-3, 5-3, 3-1, 3-4(10), 10-5
..A.Spirits 3-2 Mithazni - 3-6, 10-2, 7-5(10), 8-5, 1-3


Amnanache 2, National 1: One more season-ending injury, this time to Amnanache closer Teyumpu Riali (shoulder). The 22-year-old Rei, serving as the Amnanache closer for the first time, was on a real hot streak, having not allowed an earned run since early May. Amnanache have been surprisingly bad, they can't really afford breaks like this.

Mighty Oaks 6, Lutrul 4: Last year's MVP, Oaks RF Peyaka Sefenera, showed why by taking over this contest. He was 5-for-5 with a pair of home runs and a triple, falling a double short of the cycle, while driving in four runs including the eventual winner in the 7th.

Standings..........W..L
-- Mighty Oaks 66 29
-- ...National 60 35
+1 .....Kepmem 58 37
-1 ....Cheshek 57 38
-- ...Pasataki 56 39
+1 .....Keleri 56 39
-1 .....Tsapna 52 43
-- ....Fampalo 48 47
+1 ..A.Spirits 47 48
+2 ...Westline 45 50
-- ...Akashemo 45 50
-3 .....Lutrul 45 50
-- ..Sh.Eagles 43 52
-- .....Kupore 43 52
+1 ..Amnanache 42 53
-1 Otahel City 42 53
-- ....Sitache 41 54
-----------------------------
-- ....Nokelto 39 56
-- .....Hokrof 36 59
-- ...Mithazni 29 66


A 12-3 period for Mighty Oaks puts the league on notice – they really want to be the team that breaks the three-peat "curse". A symmetric 3-12 period for Mithazni seems like it's all but locked them into a relegation position, 12 games from safety at the halfway point. Given that, the last two seasons, teams with 79-111 records have been relegated, that suggests Mithazni would need to play the second half above .500 to stick around.

Kepmem and Cheshek continue to stick around. I'm most impressed with BK Kepmem, who have never finished higher than 9th place in the Elite League and still don't really have all that much of a pitching staff. Their underlying hitting stats aren't actually all that impressive either, but it's added up to the 2nd-highest run output in the EL. I don't really expect it to continue, as they are a staggering 24-11 in one-run games and 9-3 in extra innings, but hard not to be proud of wins already banked.

Next post will be a stats & lower leagues update - then rounds 20-22 to start off the second half. These are all reverses of series from earlier in the year, specifically rounds 3-5. So, we'll see a couple of decent rematches - National vs. Galaxy,

Round 20:
Shunna Eagles vs. Kepmem
Cheshek vs. Sitache
Westline vs. Fampalo
Tsapna vs. Mithazni
National vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Keleri vs. Lutrul
Mighty Oaks vs. Otahel City
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Hokrof
Akashemo vs. Amnanache
Nokelto Scouts vs. Kupore

Round 21:
Sitache vs. Mighty Oaks
Fampalo vs. Keleri
Lutrul vs. Cheshek
Hokrof vs. Shunna Eagles
Otahel City vs. Tsapna
Amnanache vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Mithazni vs. Akashemo
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Westline
Kupore vs. National
Kepmem vs. Nokelto Scouts

Round 22:
Lutrul vs. Nokelto Scouts
Hokrof vs. Cheshek
Kepmem vs. Keleri
Sitache vs. Shunna Eagles
Fampalo vs. National
Mithazni vs. Westline
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Otahel City vs. Akashemo
Kupore vs. Mighty Oaks
Amnanache vs. Tsapna

[Ruwisc]

2022 Halfway Point – Stats Update

With 50 games down for each team, here's a look at how the early-season stats races are going:

Batting race:
Solo Sipet (NAT, CF): .384
Peku Karwo (ASPI, 1B): .370
Rolupi Shekesu (SIT, 3B): .346

After Sipet's intra-city move from Muni in the offseason, he looks to have upped his game even more. Despite having missed 18 games in the first half (currently recovering from a sprained ankle), Sipet looks to be on pace for his first double-digit WAR season. He also leads the league in slugging and OPS while being second in OBP and 5th on the WAR leaderboard overall.

Home runs:
Rolana Rekesu (ASPI, 3B): 34
Lope Shosotsoke (MIT, LF): 32
Lara Tsimelefo (NOKS, CF): 29

The hitting prowess of Shosotsoke, in his first EL season following promotion, is the biggest bright spot for Mithazni. He has more home runs right now than his team has wins (Mithazni are 10-41 in their last 51 games). Unfortunately for them, he has a relegation clause in his contract, so we may see him in a different EL uniform in 2023.

RBI:
Kala Koshynae (KEP, 3B): 92
Somp Awia (OAKS, 1B): 86
Silike Ruea (EAG, 3B): 86

Big bounce-back season from Ruea, whose ability to drive in runs in the clutch is usually his best attribute. In his fifth season in the capital following 4 years with Akashemo, the Eagles 3B had been on a pretty steady downward slide for the past four years, but looks to have rebounded nicely to at least his 2018 level, if not better.

Position player WAR:
Kala Koshynae (KEP, 3B): 6.8
Nekafe Natso (KEP, SS): 6.3
Peyaka Sefenera (OAKS, RF): 6.0

I would definitely back Koshynae to win the MVP at this stage, especially with Kepmem's continued staying power

Stolen bases:
Sawita Pichake (EAG, 2B): 47
Anesa Mikesash (NAT, SS): 38
Tukefa Atswue (CEX, LF): 36
Ketso Kofmi (CEX, SS): 36

Pichake has stolen an amazing 28 bases since the last update (so only 45 games) and has already surpassed his career high. He is actually not hitting as well as he has in the last couple of seasons, but running like a madman once he's on base.

ERA:
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 2.28
Tupae Epofemi (ZAP): 2.68
Aro Ipo (SIT): 2.71

Wins:
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 13-0
Aro Ipo (SIT): 10-3
Tuwafo Kemo (NOKS): 10-3
Lesayo Lasheta (LUT): 10-5

Feshasu has continued his tear and, amazingly, still sits undefeated at the season's halfway point. Having made one start against each opponent, the Oaks are 15-4 when he takes the bump, including the last 7 as wins. He is definitely on the fast track to his first Pitcher of the Year award, in just his second year as a full-time starter.

Saves:
Autsu Sikiura (OAKS): 31
Akawo Nylur (ZAP): 26
Uteuche Rolei (KEP): 26

Unlike last year, where the saves leaderboard was changing hands constantly, Sikiura is building a decent lead. Moving from Hokrof to the Mighty Oaks has provided more opportunities, and Sikiura has converted them efficiently, at 31-33.

Strikeouts:
Tsarase Roshoshe (AKAU): 127
Sefti Merefife (ZAP): 126
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 123

Completely different top 3 than at the quarter pole. 4 other pitchers are within 8 of Roshoshe's league lead right now. This only averages out to about 7 per start, so strikeouts must be down a little bit leaguewide. Last year's total of 270 from Amnanache's Laotso Tirionu (also one of the aforementioned chasers) seems tough to catch.

Pitcher WAR:
Aro Ipo (SIT): 4.4
Notsimi Feshasu (OAKS): 4.3
Santa Ketitu (NAT): 4.1

I somehow missed this at the end of last week, but Aro Ipo is going to miss potentially the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Really tough news for Sitache, especially given that Ipo, 20, will reach free agency this offseason for the first time.

----------

Lower Leagues Update

Second League
The race for EL promotion is interesting, with two teams way out front. One is an EL mainstay, while the other would make history!
Standings...............W..L
-- ............Meka 62 31
-- ............Muni 63 32
+5 ...........Nokir 55 40
-----------------------------
-1 ...Swans Menmapa 54 41
10 .........Tishmin 52 43
+4 Arokets.Canaries 52 43
-2 ......Nipte City 51 44
-4 ..........Semyof 50 45
+3 ......Yoho Bears 50 45
-3 ..Ransu Shockers 49 46
-5 ...Tenshe.Rubies 49 46
+2 .........Takanse 47 48
+3 Pelpitimochu Utd 43 51
-3 .....Nokelto Utd 43 52
+5 ..........Onesti 42 53
-3 .........Penhara 41 54
-----------------------------
+1 ...........Linir 41 54
-9 .........Rasenok 39 56
-2 ...Mamtul Wolves 36 59
-1 ..........Wichku 29 65


Meka BC and Shunna Municipal (Muni) seem like locks to promote to next season's Elite League. For Muni, this is old hat - they're coming straight off a six-season stint in the EL - although many of their players are new thanks to some relegation clauses possessed by last year's team. For Meka, though, this is all new. In just their third year in the Second League, the team representing little old Meka (pop. 14,400) is on the verge of the big time. Meka will become the first team to rise from below the fifth tier of the pyramid to the Elite League with a top-3 finish, having been in tier 6 as recently as 1996. In fact, Meka began the sim (1991) in the 8th-tier Northwest League!

The race for third looks to be very exciting, with a huge number of teams clustered together, including the other two EL relegated clubs (Canaries, Semyof) and another former EL champion (Nokir in '96). If Nipte City were to get promoted, they would accomplish the same feat as Meka, having also started in tier 8.

Northern Premier League
Standings...............W..L
+2 ........Moonside 65 30
-1 ...Sunoki Hearts 63 31
-----------------------------
+1 ..........Yasral 63 32
-2 .Alilia Captains 62 33
+5 .........Loshtsi 51 44
+2 ...Sowichark Utd 51 44
-2 ....Lempisho Utd 50 45
+4 ....Tsutonsu Utd 50 45
+8 ......Hiolye Utd 50 45
+1 Enihaka Cyclones 49 46
+2 ............Kine 48 47
-6 .......Atafe Utd 47 48
+1 ........Lisa Utd 45 50
-5 .....Ransu Ports 44 50
-- .........Shalish 42 53
-- ...........Losap 41 54
-----------------------------
+1 .......Moshelosi 39 56
11 ..........Oyefit 39 56
-- Sapoyo Tortoises 34 61
-- ...........Lesha 16 79


Moonside (Eroha, Rupakare) are on a nearly year-long heater. In August 2021, they were in last place in the NPL, but a furious last four week run (led by now-Galaxy SS Atsi Keana) saved them from relegation, and they've continued to win given a new season's worth of runway. None of Moonside, Sunoki Hearts (Ransu) or Yasral (also Ransu) have played in the 2L before.

Southern Premier League
Standings..............W..L
-- ............Fese 67 28
-- ...Killi.Bayside 59 36
-----------------------------
+2 ...........Fachi 58 37
-- ........Sachlihe 55 40
-2 .........Amkutan 53 42
+4 .Killitash Stars 52 43
+2 .........Shepero 51 44
-1 .........Himespo 51 44
+3 .........Wikyats 48 47
+5 ......Feshuyalya 47 48
-5 Killitash Giants 46 49
-1 South Shore Aksa 45 50
+5 ...........Hilas 44 51
-6 ....Tinshenikosh 44 51
+1 ...........Somno 43 52
-3 ...Hefem Rangers 41 54
-----------------------------
-3 .......Takelehun 40 55
-1 ....Aksa Hornets 40 55
-- .....Hechemi Utd 34 61
-- ..Hefem Monarchs 32 63


Fese taking over - what was a 1-game lead in the last update has grown to an 8-game lead. There could be a lot of 2L debutants next season, as none of the current top three in the SPL have ever played there either.

Lower League Leaders

Tier 4:

Northern Super League - Sakse BC (Sakse, HO): 56-33
Southern Super League - Sokroch BC (Pasataki, ZA): 60-29

Tier 5:

Mideast League One - Wuhalale BC (Aroketsil, KX): 50-25
Northeast League One - Kolansolo United (Kolansolo, LS): 54-21
Southern League One - Renfiso BC (Renfiso, EM): 51-24
Western League One - Motech BC (Kepits, SE): 50-25

Tier 6:

Mideast League Two - Tenelemsha BC (Tenelemsha, PI): 49-26
Northeast League Two - Shotiskir BC (Shotiskir, LS): 49-26
Southern League Two - Wulu BC (Aksa, ZA): 50-25
Western League Two - Nuretom BC (Lashpetilye, FH): 51-24

Tier 7:

Central Championship - Maputsa BC (Maputsa, KX): 31-12
Mideast Championship - Olchashe BC (Roye, HO): 29-14
Northeast Championship - Sapfyumil BC (Ransu, RA): 26-17
North Championship - Kichlichof BC (Layaltameyo, HO): 27-16
Northeast Championship - Nofeki United (Nofeki, TA): 29-14
Prairie Championship - Limu Town (Limu, SE): 28-15
Southern Championship - Yusut Saints (Yusut, KX): 31-12
South Sea Championship - Pirtset BC (Tenshemaho, ZA): 29-14

Tier 8:

Central Championship - Fani BC (Fani, PI): 22-5
Mideast Championship - Melosaro United (Melosaro, HO): 18-9
Northeast Championship - Nelopute BC (Nelopute, CA): 19-8
North Championship - Osheyan Cavalry (Osheyan, HO): 20-7
Northeast Championship - Pitsehaten Wolves (Pitsehaten, TA): 20-7
Prairie Championship - Nernel South (Nernel, SE): 17-10
Southern Championship - Womasi BC (Sheshu, EE): 20-7
South Sea Championship - Shirsikol BC (Tenshemaho, ZA): 17-10

The state leagues are just underway, having had their opening games here at the start of week 10.