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Barquisimeto’s playoff streak grew to four seasons with their third Venezuela Division title in that stretch. For the first time in that run, they earned the Bolivar League’s #1 seed. At 107-55, the Black Cats had their first 100+ win season since 1981. They needed to be strong to fend off Valencia at 100-62. The Velocity took the first wild card for their third playoff berth in five years.

The Colombia-Ecuador Division was top heavy as well with a surprise winner in Medellin. The Mutiny hadn’t posted a winning season or playoff berth since 1998 and won only 55 games two years prior. In 2011, Medellin earned the #2 seed at 102-60. It was also their first division title since 1994.

They fended off Guayaquil (98-64) and Quito (95-67) for the division title. The Golds took the second wild card to extended their playoff streak to four years. The Thunderbolts fell short of the playoffs, as did solid efforts in Venezuela by Ciudad Guayana (91-71) and Caracas (89-73). The Giants had their own impressive turnaround, having won only 67 in 2010.

Defending Copa Sudamerica winner and three-time defending BL champ Santa Cruz was the weakest playoff team, but they extended their impressive Peru-Bolivia Division title streak to six seasons. The Crawfish took it at 93-69, besting Callao by three games. The Cats had their playoff streak ended at three years. Arequipa, a wild card last year, dropped to 82-80.

Leading Medellin’s turnaround was RF Manuel Marquez, who won his second Bolivar League MVP. The Colombian lefty had previously taken the top honor in 2008. The 27-year old slugger led in 2011 in runs (137), RBI (158), total bases (447), average (.363), slugging (.734), OPS (1.137), wRC+ (197), and WAR (9.0). Marquez smacked 60 home runs, falling two short of a Triple Crown season. In the winter, the Mutiny locked up their superstar to an eight-year, $87,700,000 extension.

Pitcher of the Year was Guayaquil’s Ulisses Natividad. The 29-year old Ecuadoran led in WAR (9.4), FIP- (53), and quality starts (24). Natividad had a 2.61 ERA over 238.1 innings with a 16-10 record, 290 strikeouts, and 156 ERA+.

Santa Cruz’s four-peat hopes were dashed as Guayaquil ousted them 2-1 in the first round of the playoffs. Barquisimeto dropped the Golds 3-1 in the Divisional Series, while Valencia outlasted Medellin 3-2. The Black Cats ended a Bolivar League Championship Series drought dating back to 1982, while the Velocity’s last BLCS was their 2007 pennant.

Valencia started hot by winning the first three games of the series. Barquisimeto avoided the sweep by winning the next three. In a decisive game seven, the Velocity was the road winner for their seventh Bolivar League title. The 2011 crown joins their 2007 win and the 1974-78 five-peat.



Recife won the Southern Cone League title in 2010 as a wild card. In 2011, the Retrievers had the top overall seed at 103-59 atop the North Division. It was their third straight playoff berth, but first division title since 2000. Last year’s division winner and LCS runner up Fortaleza was a distant second at 86-76, which ended their playoff streak at three.

Cordoba won the South Central Division at 98-64. The Chanticleers earned repeat playoff berths, but they hadn’t been a division champ in 25 years. Both wild cards came out of the division with Santiago (94-68) and Concepcion (92-70). The Chiefs snapped a 19-year playoff skid while the Saints ended a five-year drought. Asuncion’s five-year playoff streak ended as they struggled to 70-92. It was only the third playoff miss since 1997 for the Archers.

Sao Paulo repeated in the Southeast Division at 94-68 and set a new league record with 122 team triples. That remains the Southern Cone’s top mark as of 2037. Rosario (89-73) and Rio de Janeiro (85-77) were their closest foes in the divisional race. The Robins ended up three games short of Concepcion for the second wild card spot.

Recife 3B Niccolo Coelho was the Southern Cone League MVP. The 28-year old Brazilian led in runs (117) and RBI (139). Coelho added 190 hits, 53 home runs, a 1.065 OPS, 191 wRC+, and 9.2 WAR. The Retrievers would give Coelho a seven-year, $68,900,000 extension signed in August 2012.

Buenos Aires veteran lefty Fernan Murillo won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons. The 33-year old Colombian led in WAR (10.1), strikeouts (329), WHIP (0.82), K/BB (13.2), FIP- (53), and quality starts (25). Murillo added a 16-11 record over 253 innings, a 2.31 ERA, and 165 ERA+. He also became the 29^th Beisbol Sudamerica pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts.

Sao Paulo swept Concepcion in the first round, then took Recife to the limit in the Divisional Series. The defending champ Retrievers held on 3-2 over the Padres, while Cordoba defeated Santiago 3-1. The Chanticleers earned their first Southern Cone Championship appearance since their 1985 pennant. Recife wouldn’t be denied the repeat, rolling Cordoba 4-1 in the final. The Retrievers have impressively won five pennants since joining in the 1974 expansion (1984, 1995, 1996, 2010, 2011). They’re the first repeat LCS winner since Asuncion from 2000-01.



However, Recife would come up short in Copa Sudamerica for back-to-back seasons. Valencia won 4-2 in the 81th finale for their third Cup win, joining the 1977 and 1978 titles. They’re also the first Venezuelan team to win it all since Ciudad Guayana in 1984, which was the longest drought in any division. 1B Nicolas Aquino was finals MVP with 18 playoff starts, 23 hits, 8 runs, 3 doubles, 4 home runs, and 7 RBI.



Other notes: Owen Arcia became only the ninth BSA batter to 3000 career hits. Arcia also became the 34^th to reach 1500 runs scored. Vincente Sainz became the 14^th member of the 600 home run club. He played one more season and retired with 644, which ranks 18^th as of 2037.

Jose Antonio Saenz won his tenth consecutive Gold Glove at second base. Saenz is also the record holder at the position in BSA. 3B Oliver Mejia became a seven-time Gold Glover. Two-way player Oliver Ichminya won his eighth Silver Slugger as a pitcher.