The Lokasi Elite League

[Ruwisc]

November Transactions

Free agency opened on November 6, and a lot happened this month! Notable news most days in the FA market.

November 7:

• BK Kepmem signs one of the first amateur free agent prizes, C/1B Lamaki Shelkasake, for $3.12 million per season. He's playable in both spots now, but will always be a hitting-focused player. Still, I think he might be a catcher long-term.

November 9:

• Lutrul has signed OF Fayafo Sheotel, formerly a player for Sakse in the Northern Premier League, for 8 years/$54.5 million. Sheotel was one of the prize amateurs two years ago, went to Sakse to develop, but opted out when they were relegated this season. Now 18, he still has some developing to do but can probably go straight into the middle of the Lutrul lineup and will be a Gold Glove contender in left.

November 11:

• Semyof signs former Yasral SS Sashe Liposeli for 5 years, $52 million. Potsomowe Shulitso will slide over to second base to accommodate. Liposeli is 19 and has not played in the EL before, but he should be an above-average EL shortstop and Semyof's infield defense is now much better.

November 14:

• Westline signs former Hokrof closer Ferufi Shonoro for 4 years, $37.4 million. That feels like a lot for someone who isn't going to be their closer. Shonoro, 21, was a good bullpen piece when Hokrof was last in the EL (2020-22) and led that unit of the team in their 2L championship run last year.

November 15:

• One of the big dominoes falls quickly - 1B Peku Karwo, the two-time reigining MVP, formerly of the relegated Aroketsil Spirits, has signed with Westline as well, for 8 years/$111 million. Westline will move incumbent 1B Wyshuo Aliso into the outfield. They have to be viewed as the title front-runners until further notice.

November 18:

• Amnanache signs former National closer Fapasile Opopa, $4.2 million on a 1-year deal. Opopa tore his rotator cuff in May but is expected to be back to full strength in time for the season.

November 19:

• Amnanache also signs one of the amateur free agents I mentioned last time, OF Marte Choap. With their offensive woes going back forever, this could be a franchise-defining pull. Choap is expected to play first base this season, but he's better utilized in the corner outfield spots in general.

November 20:

• Amnanache's former closer, Teyumpu Riali, has signed with Semyof on a 3-year deal for $22 million. He seems to be better suited for the closer's role than incumbent Letsanie Shizechao, but we'll see who gets the save opportunities.

November 21:

• Amnanache signs 3B Ripke Kaitsomine for 5 years, $30.8 million. Kaitsomine is 21, and previously played for Ashishwa in Northeast League Two (tier 6). No standout skills, but no holes in his game either. Amnanache seem to want him to be their leadoff hitter.

November 22:

• Finally, Amnanache has traded SP Neare Tenahem to the nearby Ransu Ports (tier 3) for 18-year-old IF Shorinu Kisami. Kisami is a bench bat at this level, but should be a reliable pinch-hitter. Tenahem had just one year of team control left, but subsequently signed an extension with the Ports.

November 23:

• Nene Asi, formerly the closer at Fampalo before their relegation, has signed with National for 3 years, $3.76 million. He is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, having torn his UCL in June.

November 24:

• One of the top amateur free agent pitchers, Ferenasi Salpe, has signed with Semyof at a $50 million guarantee over five years (four is normal for amateurs). He has a nasty curveball & won't beat you with velo but will beat you.

November 25:

• Another top 16-year-old pitcher, Fekiu Wefo, has signed with Meka for $6.2 million per season. He's less developed than Salpe is right now but has the same top-end potential, and he already has one of the league's best changeups.

[Ruwisc]

December 2023 Transactions

December 2:

• Semyof signs former Lutrul CF Ipitashi Rerawe, 28, for 8 years, $31.8 million. Huge term and not that much AAV for the former 5-time MVP, sensible for him given his injury history. 2023 was his first healthy season since his last MVP campaign of 2019.

• Westline acquires catcher Ylli Chosofali from Sokroch (SPL) for three prospects, most notably OF Pola Hatsalicho, who took 130 PAs for them this past season. This is a really shrewd move for Westline - while Chosofali only has one year of team control, he's a great leader and defensive catcher despite being just 22 years of age. It's also a move that's about to be severely undercut in a few days...

December 6:

• Keleri have done it again, bringing on top amateur pitching prospect Samayo Itsatuse for $46 million over 5 years. The trio of Itsatuse, Kes Nokolo, and Shaltseri Kalorotiha, all 18 or younger, is likely going to be very good for a very long time.

December 7:

• Westline also sign catcher Tupae Pufosa, for 8 years and $94.8 million. After spending the 2016-21 seasons in the Amnanache system, Pufosa is suddenly on his fourth EL team in four years after one-year stops at Keleri and Fampalo.

December 8 - a few notable moves today:

• Lutrul signs SS Tilutsu Hofohe, 4 years/$48.8 million. He more than doubles his annual salary on the contract he signed with Muni when they were in the 2L.

• Sitache signs SS Wasi Tsewayo, 8 years/$102 million. Tsewayo was part of the stellar infield with the Spirits, and now hopes to be the guy that can keep Sitache out of the relegation fight altogether

• The Shunna Eagles also get a shortstop, signing Nekafe Natso for two years, $8 million. Could be a huge bargain for the 3rd-place finisher in MVP voting just two seasons ago, but he did miss almost all of 2023 with a torn PCL in his knee.

• RF Kiowu Rorale, one of the top hitters on the National championship team, leaves to sign with Meka for 5 years, $54 million. The Meka lineup is starting to look pretty good, actually...

December 9:

• Shunna Eagles sign amateur CF Topeshe Tsaruo for $4.48 million per season. Tsaruo is a big lanky guy with huge power potential, with a league-average-ish bat right now. Might be best suited for an outfield corner long term.

December 14:

• BK Kepmem lands former Eagles ace, and 3rd-place PoY from this past season, Nimape Turetsotsa, for 6 years and an even $60 million. Turetsotsa, 20, led the league in home run rate this season, only allowing 14 across nearly 240 innings.

December 15:

• Semyof continues to stockpile other teams' closers, this time landing former Tsapna closer Akawo Nylur for 3 years at just over $8 million per year. Nylur was the 2022 Reliever of the Year, and finished 3rd in 2023 despite not being the primary closer anymore.

December 23-24:

• I wouldn't most Second League signings, but this double-whammy caught my eye. Killitash Bayside, in their second year in the 2L, sign both SP Tsai Reyolafa & 3B Rolana Rekesu, formerly starring with Amnanache and Aroketsil Spirits, respectively. In fact, they've got five new front-line players that were ELers in 2023!

December 24:

• Catcher Epencho Posheni signs with Cheshek, for 4 years, $47.7 million. This is his third straight contract that has been for four years, with an opt-out after two, and both previous times (with Keleri and Westline) he has exercised that opt-out. A highly-respected defensive catcher and a good, but not elite, bat.

• Muni has inked former Lutrul 2B Poem Meste for 6 years, $49.8 million. Good get for a team desperately in need of decent bats.

December 30:

• Former Akashemo United closer Chitipa Fyhy signs with Lutrul, for 3 years, $18 million. Quite a reliable arm, he's carried an ERA between 1.92 and 2.24 the last four years in a row.

[Ruwisc]

January & February 2024 Transactions

More minor moves as the offseason reaches its second half. These are the ones that feel important, at least:

January 3:

• Former Eagles SP Zhitao Imatsa has signed with Mighty Oaks for one year, $7.1 million. Imatsa had Tommy John surgery last May and won't be ready to return until at least May of this year, so the Oaks are putting some faith in that right elbow.

January 9:

• Pecho Tsytemoi, who was a swingman for the Oaks last season, has signed with the Galaxy for 6 years, $31.3 million to be part of their rotation. He was really solid last year whether being used out of the rotation or the bullpen (27 starts, 17 relief appearances).

January 24:

• Amnanache signs SP Uriyoko Tselsiko for two years, $5.8 million. This is the player whose career I have been tracking since he entered the league system in the mid-2000s - it's fun that after years of toiling in the lower tiers, he's entering this EL journeyman phase in his 30s. This is his 3rd mid-table stop in 3 years, after time spent with pre-contention Westline and Lutrul last season.

February 4:

• The top remaining free agent, former Cheshek catcher Pusituli Fomochi, has signed with Tsapna for 3 years, $27.8 million. Fomochi is the rare catcher with an Iron Man injury rating, having started at least 148 games in each of the last ten seasons. Now age 30, he's a little behind his best days but has two Gold Gloves and a league-average bat to offer.

That's all that really stuck out to me - it's time to get into the new season!

[Ruwisc]

Apologies to Tupae Pufosa and his family for misspelling his name on last year's version of this graphic, which I only noticed when making this one

[Ruwisc]

2024 Season Preview - Part 1

This is how the projected bottom 5 teams will line up for 2024. Going in reverse preseason predictions order:


SITACHE BC
Sitache, CA
2023: 79-111 (17th)
Seasons in EL: 16
Best finish: 4th (2018)
Payroll: $84.2 million (14th)
Manager: Tylu Hiyoshe (3rd year)

Two seasons ago, Sitache was part of a healthy contingent of three Elite League teams from the state of Chastara. Now, it seems like they're lucky to have even one. Sitache survived relegation by just a single game in 2023, thanks to a season-ending three-game win streak at Amnanache, but did they just delay the inevitable by a year? Maybe not, because one huge signing was made with the benefit of Elite League ball, but also maybe yes because the pitching staff... yikes.

Lineup (14th):
CF Rolupi Shekesu - SS Wasi Tsewayo - 1B Fomo Tirma
3B Fumiecho Sahiu - 2B Fosusha Keninipe - LF Monisho Hefie
RF Micha Pishot - C Hoasimu Karulin

The team is currently without catcher Chise Koslu, who broke his kneecap right at the end of last season and is about a week away from being able to play. Koslu is likely the cleanup hitter, with the others sliding down a spot. Tsewayo was the big draw, coming over from the Aroketsil Spirits (the team that Sitache displaced by winning at season's end). It wouldn't be all that surprising to see either he or Tirma be an MVP contender.

Rotation (20th):
Eshan Kohopa - Neshofa Koleshaparo - Hecho Nikera - Molile Aoko - Feli Toyerno

Only Kohopa is actually an EL-caliber starter. This was Sitache's rotation by the end of last season, so this is a known entity - known to be bad, that is. If there's one silver lining, it would be that the defense is likely to be at least a little bit better.

Closer: Peyaka Nit (18th)

Nit will split opportunities with Tsario Nufeka - neither is amazing but the team has bigger problems.

2024 prediction: 66-124 (20th)

There are a lot of respectable players on the Sitache squad. If they can somehow find maybe two more capable starting pitchers, that might be enough to comfortably survive, but it looks like another dogfight. They were in the same position last year and made it work, but they are still the "obvious choice" if someone asks you who will finish 20th.


SHUNNA MUNICIPAL BC
Shunna, XU
2023: 85-105 (14th)
Seasons in EL: 21
Best finish: 6th (1995)
Payroll: $81.8 million (15th)
Manager: Pomi Felitsu (5th year)

Muni ended up not having too much trouble sticking around in the first season back in the big time. With last year bringing so many changes due to promotion, this year's team is mostly the same, save for the middle infield combo. SS Tilutsu Hofohe is gone to Lutrul, and 2B Poem Meste was brought in from Lutrul in separate free agent decisions. Unfortunately, that swap is a win for Lutrul (not by a lot, but clearly so).

Lineup (20th):
RF Pilima Ayawetsi - 1B Hekewi Lymon - LF Tae Hefie
2B Poem Meste - 3B Shakipe Lilo - CF Teyi Likoka
C Rina Kifusitu - SS Chirilia Icheo

I mentioned Tae Hefie opting out at the start of the offseason, but this is an oversight of a combination of rules in the game. Hefie did have an opt-out, and did exercise it, but also still found himself under team control for one more season, so here he still is. Odd outcome for sure. This is what I get for building a system where 16-year-old amateurs can sign major league deals.

The top half of the lineup is OK - Ayawetsi, Hefie, Meste and Lilo are good hitters without the superstar upside - but the bottom of the lineup is pretty poor. Aside from Meste, only Icheo is actually new to the team - he's an interesting case, a 38-year-old who has never played in the EL before but played 12 years in the 2L. As a replacement for Hofohe, it's not super inspiring. At least this team will be good defensively, I think.

Rotation (9th):
Iraite Nisushi - Toitu Sofiulo - Emi Kohopa - Nawin Posheni - Okishira Ekulumapi

Muni survived last season on the strength of their rotation, and that seems to be the idea again with everyone brought back, except they're starting from a place of being injured. Shaho Reopo will be out until May-ish after his TJ, and Latsal Chatsol will miss the entire season due to his injury from last September. Nisushi, the new Opening Day man, was the closer last year and it looks like he'll need some time to stretch out.

Closer: Leset Kakosuta (5th)

He was Nisushi's setup man last year, and now it's his show. Looks ready enough to me.

2024 prediction: 76-114 (19th)

19th feels harsh, but maybe that's just because they're so clearly better than Sitache. Someone does have to finish 19th, I suppose.


AKASHEMO UNITED
Akashemo, RP
2023: 79-111 (16th)
Seasons in EL: 21
Best finish: 7th (2014)
Payroll: $86.1 (13th)
Manager: Sosytse Aoko (4th year)

This ended up getting lost in the shuffle because they clinched a day early, but if Akashemo had lost one additional game somewhere along the way, they too would have dropped into the relegation zone. After spending a good portion of the season in last place, I'm a little surprised to be talking about them right now to be honest.

Lineup (18th):
LF Putta Faseltsa - RF Shashacheta Kukoteache - CF Tseiriki Tushifo
1B Kawachu Tan - 2B Kypo Oifi - 3B Yatil Potsetsa
SS Chosyshire Pochayi - C Siso Fatsi

Lots of stomachs in Akashemo are atwist this spring over the team's two best hitters both moving positions, unrelatedly: Tushifo moves from left, where he was good, to center, where he's likely to be below average, and Tan goes back to 1B from catching (I imagine Akashemo want him to start more than 152 games). Rest of the lineup is pretty rough, but Tushifo is much better than any of Muni's best players so they get a bump for that reason.

Rotation (15th):
Tsarase Roshoshe - Moshiwa Satre - Sashe Eronlu - Femo Tsitsafae - Lumekatse Merefife

They've added a bit to the back end compared to last year's rotation - Eronlu was successful with Kine in the NPL, and Tsitsafae with a relegated Yasral team in the 2L. Roshoshe was 5th in the league in strikeouts last season, and Satre 7th.

Closer: Rase Koachali (17th)

Chitipa Fyhy is gone to Lutrul, so Koachali, 19, slides up to take the job whether he's ready or not. The bullpen as a whole is not a weakness, but the late innings might be.

2024 prediction: 77-113 (18th)

This Akashemo team is similar enough to last year's team that another relegation battle seems likely.


HOKROF BC
Hokrof, TA
2023: 128-62 (1st place, Second League)
Seasons in EL: 6
Best finish: 9th (2019)
Payroll: $72.4 million (19th)
Manager: Ofame Eshowilash (4th year)

The kings of the west coast are back, after easily winning the 2L league title in 2023. I was slightly worried for Hokrof going into that season, but they brought in a number of strong players (including a few from also-relegated, and also back, Mithazni) and had no problem returning whatsoever.

Lineup (13th):
RF Kiucha Lopelo - CF Myna Kylchi - 1B Pokoni Merefife
3B Laela Pysam - C Teao Ralfa - 2B Nalk Oiri
LF Tashachicho Teshelo - SS Lamaeku Salohela

Of this group, only Lopelo was actually with Hokrof in 2021. Merefife and Ralfa are the Mithazni players I mentioned, exercising their relegation clauses only to jump to the 2L anyway, but I suppose it worked out for them. Kylchi is the best-known name on the team, being part of the Mighty Oaks threepeat from 2020-22 and an everyday starter for the final two of those. Pysam, 17, was a promising rookie last season, a bulky, bat first 3B with a well-rounded offensive game aside from his complete lack of speed.

Rotation (16th):
Chek Simuofe - Kinamse Paerisuso - Topeshe Shishatata - Tetsots Roshal - Putta Chineka

Not a lot of upside here. Simuofe's EL experience consists of 11 starts for Sitache in 2018-19. The others, aside from 2nd-year pro Chineka, were all here with Hokrof in the EL two years ago and didn't distinguish themselves much then either.

Closer: Opa Kytsosuhale (10th)

Hokrof will rely on Kytsosuhale to steal some games, the rest of the bullpen is not so hot.

2024 prediction: 78-112 (17th)

Hokrof pretty much had to remake their team entirely when they got relegated. That new team blitzed the Second League, but not adding pretty much anyone to that group is asking for some trouble.


MITHAZNI BC
Hefem, EM
2023: 118-72 (2nd place, Second League)
Seasons in EL: 3
Best finish: 20th (2020, 2022)
Payroll: $72.5 million (18th)
Manager: Shochena Watsafe (4th year)

This is the third straight even year that Mithazni is a freshly promoted new EL team (the only times they have been at this level). The first two times, they finished dead last. Can they finally break through and work toward giving Keleri a big local challenge? Well, at least they're not predicted to finish 20th this year, that's good start.

Lineup (16th):
SS Kes Merefife - 3B Rilokena Kelepe - 1B Ofame Tsoara
2B Oma Feputso - RF Ekeha Tashupasho - LF Faraho Mofoto
C Ota Leretuto - CF Shepashi Micheni

A fairly anonymous group, with the 23-year-old Feputso probably the best-known name, and he only has one year of EL starting experience from his time at Semyof. There's about half a lineup's worth of quality here, which is pretty normal at the bottom of the table. The lineup decisions themselves are fairly interesting. Tsoara is a pretty good outfield prospect, and probably Mithazni's only good outfielder, so he's playing first base?

CF will especially be a black hole - Micheni is likely the worst player who will get regular playing time in the EL this season.

Rotation (13th):
Hamafme Asi - Mesa Tselsiko - Sosytse Paweshono - Pitau Fiosu - Kulaki Chamloha

By contrast, there's some nice EL experience here in the forms of Tselsiko and Paweshono. Asi was a bullpen piece for the last Mithazni EL team but transitioned to starting last year and did extremely well. This is not gonna be an amazing rotation but unless they have injury woes it won't be the thing that kills them. Another EL veteran, Kiri Yasei (Kepmem, 2014-2020) will return from injury in July.

Closer: Ketsu Sasewiraka (8th)

Sasewiraka is a weird pitcher, a 5'10" sidearmer who gets a ton of value out of his cutter but can also touch 98 on the gun. He made the reverse move from Asi, a former starter at Amnanache. The rest of the bullpen will be not so hot, I fear.

2024 prediction: 81-109 (16th)

Very few new faces compared to the team that won them promotion, but if I had to guess, Mithazni has enough pitching to stick around and survive EL relegation for the first time in their team's history.

[Ruwisc]

2024 Season Preview - Part 2



NOKIR BC
Tenshemaho, ZA
2023: 115-75 (3rd, Second League)
Seasons in EL: 26
Best finish: 1st (1996)
Payroll: $66.3 million (20th)
Manager: Seko Measi (5th year)

The premier team from the nation's second-largest city, Nokir's official fan organization has more members than any other team in the nation. It's good for the league system for this to be an Elite League organization, in my opinion.

Lineup (19th):
2B Oma Kohopa - 1B Fimshi Piso - LF Saruruso Rishisite
3B Feshori Laliusha - RF Nenats Satsotan - SS Fomuhela Taeka
CF Lifi Chopukechi - C Shykim Riali

Unlike the other two newly promoted teams, who had been relegated from the EL in 2022, Nokir has been gone a while, so many of these players are EL debutants. Only the top three hitters have played in this league before, and for each of them it's been 4 years or more.

Eagle-eyed viewers will be wondering why catcher Merisiri Punisha is not listed, given that he was just listed as the league's third-best catcher. I would also love to know the answer to that question. It appears that he and Riali split time pretty evenly in 2023, but Punisha is the far superior hitter.

Rotation (11th):
Ketsafumo Tsuefo - Kiposo Simuofe - Penu Mametsiu - Shoki Apylsho - Wokyo Iwa

Yeweko Siakapi will also be in the mix when he returns from injury near the end of April, he's either the #3 or #4. Tsuefo is just 18, but took a big jump in effectiveness in 2023, winning 19 games and generally having a sizable increase in each of his underlying stats as well.

Closer: Cheshore Matsef (4th)

Matsef came up with Mighty Oaks, and also pitched three seasons in the EL for the Nokelto Scouts, so he is no stranger to big-game pressure. This will be his first time as an EL closer, though, at age 26.

2024 prediction: 82-108 (15th)

Similar to Muni, Nokir will rely on their pitching staff to keep them up. If they do make it through this year, I'd expect a big spending offseason as teams like Semyof and Westline have done recently after returning from the 2L.



KUPORE BC
Somno, KL
2023: 84-106 (15th)
Seasons in EL: 19
Best finish: 4th (2002)
Payroll: $77.2 million (17th)
Manager: Anesa Kasati (3rd year)

2024 marks 10 straight years of EL baseball for Kupore, though there are worries across the Lower Ketsis that it could be the last after last year's team took an expected, but still not fun, dip. Kupore's opening schedule is quite tough, with their first four opponents being teams that finished in the top 8 last year.

Lineup (17th):
SS Hekewi Ruicho - 1B Yielna Sekao - 3B Misote Teshelo
2B Koraralu Fatsi - RF Rapo Ralfa - C Losaka Mokepie
LF Neare Felorasa - CF Owimero Fefen

Misote Teshelo is finally healthy again, after playing a total of 29 games the past two seasons amid a gruesome pair of injuries involving broken bones. Really hard to say how similar he'll be to the guy that finished in the top 3 of 2020 MVP balloting. Koraralu Fatsi, to his credit, became a star at 3B in Teshelo's absence, and now slides back to his natural position at 2B.

Kupore is taking flyers on a few lower-league darlings this season, with Sekao, Ralfa and Fefen all expected to contribute after previously playing in the lower tiers (5th, 7th, and 7th tiers respectively). Is this really supposed to be the league's 4th-worst offense? That doesn't look right to me, they look closer to average.

Rotation (19th):
Rattio Ayawetsi - Pikiul Omonora - Lomitsa Tomu - Mure Katekeke - Syshawe Pukiremo

The top two are solid, but the other three rotation spots are fungible. Like with the lineup, some big personal jumps: both Tomu and Katekeke were pitching in tier 7 last season. Katekeke's numbers in particular were pretty sparkling, but that's a big jump. I don't buy it quite as much as I would with the hitters.

Closer: Sosuo Lotechosa (13th)

Lotechosa made the lower-league jump last year, and was alright. 40 saves and an ERA in the low 3s - he'll get the job done.

2024 prediction: 87-103 (14th)

Kupore should have enough to continue to hang around in the mid-table-ish area, but eyes will be on Teshelo's health and the back of the rotation.



CHESHEK BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 106-84 (6th)
Seasons in EL: 27
Best finish: 6th (2016, 2023)
Payroll: $119.6 million (6th)
Manager: Tsiye Shiyetsorisu (7th year)

Cheshek surprisingly comes in as the lowest-predicted team of the six representing Ransu, even though they finished second among them last season. Since a near-relegation in 2019, they have finished 8th, 8th, 8th, and 6th.

Lineup (7th):
LF Tukefa Atswue - SS Ketso Kofmi - 1B Syshawe Arachihe
CF Tila Pohape - C Epencho Posheni - 3B Mare Aleshake
2B Fasoris Kilutsa - RF Manna Tyheshina

Arachihe is now one of the league's best players at 18, a safe bet to lead the league in walks and OBP. Kofmi also drew headlines last year for his pursuit of the 100-steal mark, which he did reach at 103. The big draw is Posheni, who was lured over from Westline to be the everyday catcher. He missed about 6 weeks in total with various injuries, & at age 27 he's probably on the back half of his career trajectory but still ranks as a top 5 catcher.

Rotation (6th):
Tosolefi Loap - Kimyu Nele - Tonna Tsetanipacho - Sharasa Tsuwalu - Kashuma Paemio

Risei Late will get a late start due to the surgery he had in August, but should be ready to pitch within the first couple of weeks. Tsetanipacho is a "blast from the past" name - many Lokasi fans would have assumed he retired when he left the Galaxy in 2018. A two-time EL Pitcher of the Year winner (with Penhara in 2004, and Lutrul in 2009), he spent the past five years with Talen BC in the 7th-tier Prairie Championship.

Closer: Chysho Sofiulo (12th)

The new all-time career leader in saves, as of the final day of last season, with 447, and the leader for the 2023 season with 53.

2024 prediction: 89-101 (13th)

This prediction doesn't make a lot of sense to me - Cheshek is pretty similar to last year's team, and I would expect another top-half finish.



MEKA BC
Meka, TA
2023: 91-99 (10th)
Seasons in EL: 2
Best finish: 10th (2023)
Payroll: $89.6 million (12th)
Manager: Witsata Ralfa (5th year)

Meka's first ever season in the Elite League, as the smallest club ever to reach this level, has to be considered a huge success. The team is genuinely fun to watch & once the first few weeks were gone, it never once felt like they were going to get relegated. What can they do in their followup?

Lineup (8th):
RF Kiowu Rorale - LF Kiosho Shipeyo - 2B Lesafe Tsewayo
1B Tisiri Fefae - 3B Onako Otsu - SS Chorusho Paweshono
C Lilo Kotsypoti - CF Teyumpu Hifla

The deepest lineup covered so far by a long shot. The top six should all be quite reasonable above-average hitters. Rorale comes fresh off being a key piece for the champions at National. I skipped over the acquisition of Fefae when talking December transactions & I'm not sure why I did. He was the key player for Lulo BC, not far away from Meka, as they rose from tier 7 all the way to tier 3 over the past 6-7 years.

Rotation (7th):
Fekiu Wefo - Fum Pese - Tsifanamo Misha - Lekami Riatsu - Rymetu Yelishike

Last year, Pese was a highly-touted rookie, coming in to lead the line as a 16-year-old, and it generally went pretty well. So, Meka has done it again! This time, it's Fekiu Wefo who will make his highly anticipated pro debut on opening day. They'll probably need a lot out of those two guys, as the dropoff is pretty steep. Katelo Measi will miss nearly all (if not all) of the season after having Tommy John surgery last September

Closer: Roao Loseyeri (20th)

The bullpen is quite weak overall, & is the primary reason why they're listed in the bottom half of the predictions table.

2024 prediction: 92-98 (12th)

This seems about right. Meka is not likely to be relegated or to affect the title race all that much.



SHUNNA EAGLES
Shunna, XU
2023: 86-104 (13th)
Seasons in EL: 23
Best finish: 2nd (2010)
Payroll: $91.9 million (10th)
Manager: Lamaki Fetiloa (4th year)

The Eagles' placements since returning from the 2L after the 2018 season: 11th, 9th, 10th, 15th, 13th. There must be an air of desperation given that the title was won by a Shunna-based club for the first time ever in 2023. A lot has changed from last year's team, in large part because the Eagles' free agents have moved on, so will they still be in this same position this time next year?

Lineup (10th):
2B Sawita Pichake - RF Okekola Narupu - CF Topeshe Tsaruo
C Lakiru Shufaho - 1B Shonoe Laupi - SS Nekafe Natso
LF Takipuse Porafi - 3B Silike Ruea

The lineup is the unit with the least turnover. The new faces are the rookie Tsaruo, a potential plus-plus power hitter; Laupi, one of three prospects acquired in a December trade with Westline; and Natso, a defense-first, but not light-hitting, shortstop who blew out his knee last April but was really, really, really good with Kepmem in 2022.

Rotation (18th):
Toe Kachefe - Wotsapayi Patepa - Kihase Myrokete - Akosho Nysho - Soitu Nokolo

The Eagles' rotation was not a weakness last year, but ace Nimape Turetsotsa is at Kepmem now, and distant #2 Pokoni Kofitsa went to Westline in the aforementioned trade. At least they can expect a full season from Kachefe, who came back unexpectedly early from the disaster injury he suffered on the last day of the 2022 season and pitched pretty well in just under half a season. Otherwise, this rotation is in such a state that they're giving a rotation spot to a pitcher (Nokolo) who has 31 career appearances and one start, for a team in the 4th tier of the pyramid, despite being a pro for 7 years.

Closer: Yatil Mametsiu (19th)

One of the league's weakest bullpens - the three guys who split save opportunities last year are all gone, and it already wasn't that great a bullpen before that.

2024 prediction: 92-98 (11th)

If I had to guess, the Eagles will finish behind both Meka and Cheshek out of this group, but I still don't really think they're in any danger of relegation.

[Ruwisc]

2024 Season Preview - Part 3

In what is definitely not an instance of "OOTP preseason predictions clickbait", the three teams that have combined to win the last five championships are all in this group, not in the top 5 group.



LUTRUL BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 89-101 (12th)
Seasons in EL: 19
Best finish: 1st (2011)
Payroll: $91.4 million (10th)
Manager: Yiyif Shuma (1st year)

The list of teams that have been in the EL longer than Lutrul uninterrupted is as follows: Keleri, Mighty Oaks, Tsapna. They're part of the furniture at this point, and their colors of black and blue (shared by Tsapna and Shunna Eagles) feel like the unofficial color palette of the Elite League.

Lineup (6th):
SS Tilutsu Hofohe - 2B Hypuse Toyerno - LF Fayafo Sheotel
1B Ilye Nofetso - RF Tarenu Chyfatsa - 3B Tsosotal Mpetu
C Otsiku Kiwarshi - CF Noi Wamia

This will be Lutrul's first season since the departure of CF Ipitashi Rerawe in free agency. His 2018 MVP season, his first at Lutrul after 6 with Mighty Oaks, was one of the greatest individual seasons in EL history, but he was slowed by injury in more recent years and had regressed to a much more underwhelming (but still above average) hitter. This is Nofetso's team to lead now. He had a terrible first half of the season in 2023, but rebounded quite nicely in the second half and could still be "the guy" on a good team.

The other players in the top 5 of the lineup are all new, with Hofohe coming from Muni and the others from tier 3 or lower.

Rotation (17th):
Otsi Roshoshe - Pakaka Mutsetsi - Lasoshela Tymuwe - Shina Kemo - Tsatso Rapimwio

Roshoshe came into the rotation fairly early last season and did enough to be considered a positive asset. He's the only one of these guys I can be confident will have a positive WAR in 2024.

Closer: Chitipa Fyhy (15th)

Fyhy, a free agent acquisition from Akashemo United, feels like he should be rated higher than 15th on the closers list. Overall, the bullpen should be better than the rotation.

2024 prediction: 94-96 (10th)

A ton of turnover at Lutrul this season, but they should be able to outscore some of their pitching problems and finish roughly where they've finished recently.



AMNANACHE BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 91-99 (11th)
Seasons in EL: 28
Best finish: 2nd (1999, 2000)
Payroll: $101.7 million (9th)
Manager: Petsyfu Chorao (11th year)

It's been a frustrating couple of years at Amnanache, where the balance between a very strong pitching staff and an incredibly weak lineup has been frustrating to fans, and led to a couple of years pretty much right at .500.

Lineup (9th):
1B Taekeche Punisha - SS Shaho Shosisi - 2B Peche Iyikio
CF Marte Choap - 3B Ripke Kaitsomine - LF Toliwe Hokuta
RF Chukatu Mofatsitsali - C Yatil Rima

With a little bit of money coming off the books, people around the team in North Ransu would have been clamoring for the team to cash in on a couple of strong hitters to surround homegrown star Peche Iyikio. Choap and Kaitsomine were the high-profile acquisitions - Choap a 16-year-old amateur, while the 21-year-old Kaitsomine was a superstar at the lower tiers. Shosisi, the elder statesman at 34, returns to Amnanache after one year at Westline & should be an upgrade at shortstop. Overall, the offense should be much improved, and much more like a typical team of this caliber.

Rotation (5th):
Laotso Tirionu - Epencho Latsychano - Kafaki Kohopa - Kiosho Epofemi - Uriyoko Tselsiko

The three horsemen have been reduced to two with Tsai Reyolafa gone, but he was the worst of the three in 2023 anyway so maybe that's fine. This is a big year for the pitching staff, with Tirionu a potential free agent after this season (he has a player option for 2025). Epofemi, brought in from Mighty Oaks, actually made a full complement of EL starts for the first time in his career given a pretty extensive injury history.

Closer: Onu Aseho (11th)

Amnanache brought in former National closer Fapasile Opopa in the offseason, but is going with the inexperienced Aseho at the back end to begin the year. The bullpen overall will be above average - not to the strength of the rotation, mind.

2024 prediction: 97-93 (11th)

I really like what Amnanache did this offseason - I think they might be a tick better than this. I do feel fairly confident that they'll be above .500 at least.



MIGHTY OAKS BC
Aroketsil, KX
2023: 112-78 (4th)
Seasons in EL: all 34
Best finish: 1st (2008, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Payroll: $171.6 million (1st)
Manager: Tishe Loap (2nd year)

Just to fully set the scene, Mighty Oaks haven't finished as low as 8th in over two decades - 2003, which was also the last time they won fewer than 100 games. We'll get a little bit into why I think OOTP's prediction is inaccurate, but if it were accurate, it would be basically unprecedented for one of two teams that has played in every single season of EL baseball.

Lineup (15th):
1B Yalofe Uepepa - 2B Niresilo Fetiloa - RF Peyaka Sefenera
LF Tula Misha - C Metsifu Olufapo - CF Nasi Salama
3B Tsorope Mametsiu - SS Ketsafumo Potamesa

The Oaks offense was unexpectedly bad in 2023 (13th) and that's predicted to become normal - presumably, this is the primary cause of a predicted record so close to .500. Somp Awia was a huge disappointment in '23, to the point where he's starting the year on the bench in favor of Uepepa, who started just 22 games last year. 3B Netomue Kilutsa will be back from his torn ACL in a couple of weeks, which will help - the less time that Tsorope Mametsiu spends on the field this year, the better.

Rotation (10th):
Notsimi Feshasu - Palfa Ninelhepi - Siteno Aefep - Ekana Muchlap - Nymafopu Nohatesa

The top three are known entities by now, with Feshasu one of the republic's top pitchers. Muchlap is a fresh rookie, though not one that commanded a signing bonus - he's playing for the league minimum half a million, an absolute beanpole at 6'7", 195, and could be interesting. Nohatesa has been in the Oaks system for six years without actually ever pitching - he'll need to make it work until free agent signing Zhitao Imatsa is ready to debut in mid-May.

Closer: Tsisa Onetatsa (6th)

Previous closer Autsu Sikiura was traded to a lower tier in the offseason. Onetatsa is quite talented, but had an ERA over 5 last season.

2024 prediction: 98-92 (8th)

Even with the decline in lineup quality the last couple of years, this sort of drop feels improbable.



NATIONAL BC
Shunna, XU
2023: 128-62 (1st)
Seasons in EL: 32
Best finish: 1st (2023)
Payroll: $137.7 million (5th)
Manager: Teshepo Riparchua (6th year)

Speaking of teams projected to suffer a big dropoff out of nowhere, here are the defending champions! National's first title came on the heels of their big spending spree in the 2021-22 offseason, which saw them vault from 13th to 2nd in the 2022 season. Easy to forget that they played in the Second League in both 2017 and 2019 (though otherwise they've always been an EL team).

Lineup (11th):
SS Pelik Yelishike - 3B Anesa Mikesash - CF Solo Sipet
1B Chorep Toyerno - 2B Hamafme Nokolo - RF Chulakoyo Sapolepu
LF Solofa Yalai - C Chafosu Seshate

Note: this will be the opening day lineup, as Pumona Kakosuta serves the final game of a 3-game suspension earned during a bench-clearing brawl in a meaningless game against Cheshek in the season's final weekend. I'm not sure if the tepid lineup projection considers Kakosuta or not. He will likely be the cleanup hitter and everyday right fielder, sending Yalai to a bench role.

This is one of the EL's oldest lineups, with Yelishike, Mikesash, Sapolepu and Yalai all 30 or older. Kiowu Rorale is a big loss, having signed with Meka, and the signings of Nokolo and Sapolepu don't really offset that loss. A full season of Toyerno might - he emerged in the second half last year as a rookie and should provide more raw numbers than he did in 2023.

Rotation (8th):
Kiro Ponarf - Santa Ketitu - Latsal Awia - Wucha Tekake - Shashacheta Kakosuta

Last year's National rotation was torn apart by injuries, and they're still dealing with some of that. Lohy Awia will be out until late April/early May, and Wicharu Chishatopi may not pitch at all this season. Ponarf surprised everyone last year, myself included, and became the most-relied-upon starter for the season's first half, then got shut down for the season in July with shoulder soreness; Ketitu didn't throw a pitch after May. (How did they win the title again?)

Tekake is a fresh rookie who could be a future ace at some point, while Kakosuta is a former Akashemo starter who spent the last five years tearing it up with Shepero (Southern Premier League).

Closer: Sefape Utuewe (16th)

Provided the cupboard doesn't need to be raided to fill the rotation again, the National bullpen should be quite good. Utuewe took over the closer's role last season when Fapasile Opopa was out injured and did pretty well. I don't know why he's ranked so low, TBH.

2024 prediction: 107-83 (7th)

The defending champions come in at a projected 7th place. Not saying that's impossible, but the defending champion team hasn't fallen as far as 7th since Lutrul surprisingly won the 2011 championship, then were a more typical 7th the next season. National was somewhat of a surprise in 2023, but they did finish second the prior season so I wouldn't bet on a finish outside the top 3-4.



TSAPNA BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 102-88 (7th)
Seasons in EL: 32
Best finish: 1st (2012, 2019)
Payroll: $141.5 million (4th)
Manager: Tuwafo Rekute (1st year)

2023 was kind of a lost season in Tsapna-land - there were good performances on both sides of the ball, but the team got off to a slow start and never resembled a championship contender for some reason. That snapped a streak of six straight top-4 finishes.

Lineup (5th):
LF Uoro Toyerno - 2B Lawori El - RF Iti Tashete
1B Safishi Ifata - C Pusituli Fomochi - 3B Pomi Mawotsi
CF Chiati Rolei - SS Kysatse Nysotof

Longtime starting catcher Nak Fatohatse was probably due to be upgraded on, so the team splashed on bringing in Fomochi from Cheshek, a pretty clear upgrade. These guys look the same otherwise, with Uoro Toyerno, last year's big revelation in the cleanup spot, looking to move to leadoff this season.

Rotation (3rd):
Feli Ykiteno - Soitu Chesashomo - Lomunu Awia - Setsinak Perano - Tupae Epofemi

Ideally, the ace would be Mua Wyranu, who threw only 5 innings before suffering a torn labrum in March 2023, but an injury setback over the offseason required surgery and he will miss the entire 2024 season as well. Perano also missed a good chunk of last year to injury, but was the EL's ERA leader at the time of his injury and looks to be back to full strength.

Ykiteno is, at age 28, expected to become a full-time starter for the first time in his career, a former Reliever of the Year winner at Keleri in 2016. The rest of these guys will be quite solid - in my opinion, Epofemi is the league's best #5 starter. And of course, Lomunu Awia is the only pitcher to have won Pitcher of the Year four times,

Closer: Fumiecho Hakoheso (3rd)

Last year's closer, Maho Narupu, is at Amnanache now, and Hakoheso had an injury-shortened sophomore season, throwing only 15 games. The talent is definitely there, though.

2024 prediction: 109-81 (6th)

I can imagine a wide range of Tsapna outcomes this season, so it'll be important for them to get off to that good start this year. That's possible - they won't play a real title contender until visiting Keleri in their sixth series.

[Ruwisc]

2024 Season Preview - Part 4



BK KEPMEM
Kiwa Punem, ME
2023: 101-89 (8th)
Seasons in EL: 14
Best finish: 7th (2022)
Payroll: $77.6 million (16th)
Manager: Lomitsa Liposeli (5th year)

These would be brand new heights for Kepmem. No way to research this, but I'd be surprised if the preseason predictions had ever put them into the top 5 before. (They are level with Tsapna, but as the higher-scoring team Kepmem would win the tiebreaker.) They are definitely bumping up against their budget limit at the moment, but now is the time to go for it.

Lineup (3rd):
LF Faruo Ayekrea - 1B Lesayo Kino - RF Rosana Pishot
3B Kala Koshynae - 2B Oshor Ramukosho - CF Hekopa Ketunri
SS Maho Tinashatale - C Towi Pylashe

The best top half of a lineup in the league, no doubt. Ayekrea is a good bet to win a batting title someday, Koshynae is the league's most reliable power hitter, and while Kino and Pishot are probably one step behind, but still among the league's most dangerous hitters. Ayekrea, Pishot, and Koshynae are also Gold Glove winners!

Only Ketunri is new to the team this year, coming in from Otahel City where he started about half of last season's games. They could really use a new SS and catcher, but the money might not be there.

Rotation (14th):
Nimape Turetsotsa - Teshepo Tefasa - Fato Horoko - Chasaro Ikesa - Cheshore Merefife

Turetsotsa was likely the best pitcher to change teams in the offseason, coming in from the Shunna Eagles. Pairing him with Tefasa, who led the league with 21 wins last year, is a potent one-two punch. That's all Kepmem really have, though, the end of the rotation is on par with Sitache's.

Closer: Rika Hyketo (7th)

Hyketo led the Northern Premier League with 55 saves last season with the Alilia Captains. Time to make the leap to the big show!

2024 prediction: 109-81 (5th)

This would also be a club record for EL wins, with the prior best being 104 in 2022.



SEMYOF BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 91-99 (9th)
Seasons in EL: 32
Best finish: 1st (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2006)
Payroll: $113.5 million (7th)
Manager: Hamafme Rochuchichi (5th year)

Before Semyof's surprise relegation in 2019, it was rare for them to be anything worse than a fringe contender. It took them until last year to regain their footing, but now it looks as though the monster is back. They dominated the early years of the EL era too.

Lineup (12th):
1B Hoi Sekao - 2B Potsomowe Shulitso - SS Sashe Liposeli
CF Ipitashi Rerawe - RF Ilye Lilo - C Takmake Efiyalem
3B Mpimo Fatsi - LF Ekufa Yakom

Two new signings plug immediately into the middle of the lineup, both coming from smaller teams in Ransu. Liposeli was just part of a relegated club at Yasral - he hit pretty well there, but missed four months with a freak injury. Rerawe is a household name who was persuaded to spend six years at Lutrul and did amazingly there for a while, but also struggled with injury and then had trouble rediscovering the form that won him 5 MVPs in his teens and early 20s.

Ilye Lilo is a marvel, the oldest player in the EL by two years (he's 42). This'll be his 8th year at Semyof, after 10 years at Lutrul and a 9-year career before that. It's a long time removed from his early-career struggles, hitting below .200 for Muni as a teenager in the 90s.

Rotation (4th):
Chasolo Latemohi - Ferenasi Salpe - Tusehu Wamia - Saryesi Petsytapa - Hoi Monitseleu

Latemohi had his best career season leading the line for Semyof last year, and he's joined by a pair of highly touted rookies in Salpe and Monitseleu (particularly Salpe). One of the league's younger rotations, Petsytapa is the only one above age 22 (he's 26).

Closer: Teyumpu Riali (9th)

Semyof remade the back end of their bullpen too this offseason, bringing in two rival closers in Riali (from Amnanache) and Akawo Nylur (Tsapna). Should be a pretty good pitching staff overall.

2024 prediction: 112-78 (4th)

Is Semyof elite again? I need to see a full healthy season from that lineup to be really convinced, but it could happen.



PASATAKI GALAXY
Pasataki, ZA
2023: 121-69 (2nd)
Seasons in EL: 24
Best finish: 2nd (2023)
Payroll: $111.8 million (8th)
Manager: Iwata Tufsu (1st year)

For the past three seasons, the Galaxy were the only Elite League team from the state of Tsawemoko, the country's second largest state by both area and population. That's a lot of eyeballs, though I'm sure Pasataki brass would publicly say they're quite glad to have Nokir back to play against. This has been the team's most successful period, finishing second for the first time after 2022 had been their first time finishing third. Can they follow that up with their first title?

Lineup (2nd):
RF Timleni Chanesha - CF Yaropatso Kesia - 2B Apia Lela
1B Wia Merefife - LF Charoluki Awia - C Memomo Shiheshasi
SS Wyku Tofpalts - 3B Fosusha Hakoheso

No major changes to the lineup that led the league in scoring last year. Starting LF Tsata Mote has moved on, but Awia outperformed him in a smaller sample size last year. Shiheshasi has supplanted Repimi Cholomu as starting catcher, but Cholomu is still around.

Rotation (12th):
Aro Ipo - Pecho Tsytemoi - Rani Kireo - Cheteko Epofemi - Iotesi Eiyasho

Tsytemoi is the big free agent acquisition, coming off one year with Mighty Oaks (previously with Fampalo). He has the profile of someone who could be a good starter or an elite closer, and even made 17 relief appearances in Aroketsil last season, but not surprising at all to see him starting.

Closer: Lisou Nikera (14th)

There are a lot of good closers in the league to make Nikera the 14th-best. Missed about half of last season with an elbow injury but still recorded 22 saves. He led the league with 49 of them in 2021.

2024 prediction: 112-78 (3rd)

The Galaxy will be right there all season, so long as their starting pitching is at least reasonable in quality.



KELERI BC
Hefem, EM
2023: 109-81 (5th)
Seasons in EL: all 34
Best finish: 1st (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018)
Payroll: $150.5 million (3rd)
Manager: Tsalku Katsesho (7th year)

Lokasi's premier club has now gone five years without a title, which has not happened since the early days pre-'97. Anything under 120 wins is generally a failure, which basically means there have been calls for GM Muroutsi Nokolo's head since they haven't hit that number at all in his three years at the helm. Not for a lack of spending, though...

Lineup (4th):
2B Mapisiu Kohopa - 3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo - SS Atsi Keana
1B Ouler Tuemole - CF Rarehimi Pohyfe - RF Shatso Raseke
LF Lesayo Sofiulo - C Seo Sekao

Keleri is hoping for addition this year by way of health. Atsi Keana was amazing in his first season with Keleri... for the 41 games that he played in. If he has a full season like that this year, he will win the MVP unanimously. The catching tandem - Sekao and Osotoro Yelishike, both new to the team - will be a big weak point, but the rest of the guys are good enough to overcome that.

Rotation (1st):
Kes Nokolo - Samayo Itsatuse - Shaltseri Kalorotiha - Shykim Rekute - Lamaki Tenotifek

Significantly younger than even the Semyof rotation, and even more talented, Keleri will throw 4 teenagers out there when their preferred rotation is healthy. Nokolo is probably my pick to win Pitcher of the Year this year after a strong debut season, and Keleri went out and grabbed the #1 rated amateur yet again in Itsatuse.

Closer: Toe Teshelo (2nd)

A great bullpen, although not quite as great as last year's was.

2024 prediction: 116-74 (2nd)

Last year, I thought Keleri would win it all, and I was definitely not right, but I'll say close to what I said during last year's preview again: if the young rotation pieces are as good as everyone thinks they can be, they're gonna be really hard to beat.



WESTLINE BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 119-71 (3rd)
Seasons in EL: 27
Best finish: 1st (1999)
Payroll: $159.3 million (2nd)
Manager: Mafuke Yelishike (7th year)

Westline was the "team of the offseason" in 2022-23, splurging a ton of cash that ended up vaulting them from 13th place to a podium position, similarly to what National had done the year prior. Can Westline repeat National's feat by jumping to the top of the table the next year? Well, I can tell you one thing: National didn't make nearly the free agent splash last offseason that the Liners made this year.

Lineup (1st):
LF Chatiri Shosotsoke - CF Saryesi Sifoku - 1B Peku Karwo
RF Wyshuo Aliso - 2B Nukacholo Riseki - C Tupae Pufosa
SS Atel Chirao - 3B Chop Riwihy

Westline took what was already the league's #3 ranked offense in 2023, and added the league's best hitter and two-time reigning MVP to that. Peku Karwo spent 2023 mired on an Aroketsil Spirits team that couldn't do that much around him (though his lineup protection wasn't that bad). The value he provides will be much better put to use here. Nina Mukuapi, not a bad player in his own right, will be relegated to bench duty.

Of course, I almost completely glossed over that they also signed arguably the best catcher in the nation in Pufosa, also part of a relegated team at Fampalo last year.

Rotation (2nd):
Tula Mitonone - Sefti Merefife - Misote Tsumeratsi - Pokoni Kofitsa - Hopati Chulelari

Also, Westline has the returning pitcher of the year in Mitonone, as well as the guy who won it three years ago in Merefife (though with Tsapna, not here). If Westline has any weakness at all, it might be the back end of the rotation, but most teams have much bigger problems.

Closer: Ferufi Shonoro (1st)

Shonoro is coming off a 1.12 ERA in the Second League last year, with 45 saves for a team that won the league by 10 games at Hokrof. He hasn't had to be "the guy" for a team of this caliber before, but he can probably handle it. All four of his pitches grade as 75s or above on the 20-80 scale.

2024 prediction: 132-58 (1st)

Westline is going to be really, really good this year. I won't go out and guarantee that they're going to win it all, but anyone who tries to predict someone else will win the title is engaging in some clickbait.


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

Finally, it's time for the 2024 season to begin! The first week's worth of games will be as follows:

Round 1:
Tsapna vs. Kupore
Lutrul vs. Akashemo United
Westline vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Meka vs. National
Mighty Oaks vs. Semyof
Amnanache vs. Shunna Municipal
Keleri vs. Shunna Eagles
BK Kepmem vs. Mithazni
Sitache vs. Nokir
Cheshek vs. Hokrof

Round 2:
Semyof vs. BK Kepmem
Kupore vs. Cheshek
Hokrof vs. Lutrul
Mithazni vs. Sitache
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Keleri
Nokir vs. Meka
Shunna Municipal vs. Westline
Akashemo United vs. Tsapna
National vs. Mighty Oaks
Shunna Eagles vs. Amnanache

Quite a few marquee matchups to begin the year (not staged). Of course, the largest group of eyes will be facing south, on Westline vs. the Galaxy. Mighty Oaks/Semyof is also a classic, with Semyof maybe back to their old strength.

In round 2, it doesn't stop - Semyof/Kepmem, Galaxy/Keleri, and National/Mighty Oaks should all be great series too.

[Ruwisc]

Week 1: March 1-12, 2024

Round 1
Opening Night, Sitache BC @ Nokir BC, March 1
Sitache 2 - 5 Nokir

Sitache: CF Shekesu, SS Tsewayo, 1B Tirma, 3B Sahiu, 2B Keninipe, LF Hefie, RF Pishot, C Karulin, P Kohopa
Nokir: 2B Kohopa, 1B Piso, LF Rishisite, 3B Laliusha, RF Satsotan, SS Taeka, CF Chopukechi, C Riali, P Tsuefo
W: Ketsafumo Tsuefo (1-0) L: Eshan Kohopa (0-1) S: Cheshore Matsef (1)

Both teams went with the lineups captured in the season preview (I grabbed all that information on March 1, to be fair). I did re-roll the schedule pairings a couple of times to get an interesting March 1 game; Nokir's return to EL play for the first time since 2018 seemed good enough to host the marquee game.

On the field, Rolupi Shekesu and Oma Kohopa set the tone for the year by each hitting leadoff home runs! Sitache took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on consecutive singles by their 3-4-5 hitters with two out. Monisho Hefie also singled, but Lifi Chopukechi came up firing and nailed Sahiu trying to score. The pitcher Tsuefo led off the bottom of the third with a single and ended up scoring the tying run on a two-out knock by Saruruso Rishisite.

It remained 2-2 until the bottom of the 5th inning. Riali led off with a single and Tsuefo sac bunted him up ahead of Oma Kohopa's walk. Fimshi Piso beat out what could have been a 3-6-3 double play ball, which made all the difference. Eshan Kohopa left the game at this point, but he probably should've been allowed to finish the 5th inning. Rishisite's 2-run double off Reroneu Rekakon provided the winning runs, and Feshori Laliusha followed up with an RBI single that produced what would be the final score.

PotG: Nokir LF Saruruso Rishisite: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R


.....Tsapna 3-2 Kupore - 3-4, 1-3, 5-4, 5-0, 9-7
.....Lutrul 4-1 Akashemo - 10-5, 9-6, 6-5, 5-3, 2-6
...Westline 0-5 Pasataki - 3-4, 1-3, 2-6, 6-7(10), 8-22
.......Meka 1-4 National - 4-7, 6-5(10), 3-5(10), 4-5, 3-5
Mighty Oaks 3-2 Semyof - 0-3, 6-2, 3-0, 6-2, 3-4(10)
..Amnanache 2-3 Muni - 7-8, 6-2, 2-3, 2-4, 6-4(10)
.....Keleri 5-0 Sh.Eagles - 2-1, 5-4, 9-2, 21-3, 9-8
..BK Kepmem 4-1 Mithazni - 6-5, 4-5, 3-1, 13-7(11), 8-1
....Sitache 2-3 Nokir - 2-5, 9-5, 3-14, 4-2(12), 8-10
....Cheshek 3-2 Hokrof - 9-5, 5-3, 1-7, 8-2, 4-5


National 7, Meka 4: In their opening day fixture, National suffer two pretty unwelcome injuries: SS Pelik Yelishike suffered a partial Achilles tear while running the bases in the 2nd inning, and closer Sefape Utuewe had his season end after five pitches due to a torn rotator cuff. I never have spring training turned on, but maybe I should start doing that.

Keleri 2, Shunna Eagles 1: A new year, same old Atsi Keana - he strained something in his midsection while sliding into second base on his 8th-inning leadoff double, which will put him out for about the first quarter of the season. Pinch-runner Matepaso Tsuefo did score the eventual game-winning run, so it wasn't a totally worthless loss.

Kupore 3, Tsapna 1: This star injury took two days to manifest; Tsapna 2B Lawori El will miss around a month with a hamstring strain.

Keleri 21, Shunna Eagles 3: March 6 was marked by a pair of absolute beatdowns, one a bigger surprise than the other. The star of this game was Keleri SS Shatso Raseke, who had three home runs and drove in 8 - there wasn't a single 8-RBI game in the EL all of last season, and Keleri got one here in game 4. LF Apia Rarasahiu had a pair of homers as well, including the one that in my opinion really broke the game open (from 7-3 to 9-3).

Pasataki Galaxy 22, Westline 8: The finale of the season's marquee opening series became a full-on nightmare for Westline. Having already taken the first four games, the vaunted Galaxy lineup went supernova in game 5, sending at least 9 men to the plate in each of the first three innings, after which they held an 18-0 lead. Eight of the 9 positions in the Galaxy order scored multiple runs, with the only one not doing so being star 2B Apia Lela. The other thing that strikes me is Pasataki's efficiency: they actually stranded fewer runners in the game than Westline did (10 to 5).

So, in the first marquee test for Westline as the presumptive league favorites, they fall completely flat on their face. To be fair, @Pasataki is the toughest test you can put in front of a pitching staff, but also, they're supposed to be the pitching staff that can best handle it.

Round 2

.....Semyof 3-2 BK Kepmem - 14-6, 3-1, 11-13, 4-3, 1-5
.....Kupore 4-1 Cheshek - 4-3, 0-9, 2-1, 5-1, 7-6
.....Hokrof 3-2 Lutrul - 6-3, 5-3, 4-3, 2-4, 5-10
...Mithazni 2-3 Sitache - 2-4, 5-4, 9-4, 3-4, 1-4
...Pasataki 2-3 Keleri - 3-1, 7-6, 3-9, 6-7(10), 3-5
......Nokir 2-3 Meka - 1-6, 7-4, 2-10, 3-8, 3-2
.......Muni 2-3 Westline - 2-5, 3-8, 8-4, 7-5, 6-9(10)
...Akashemo 3-2 Tsapna - 3-2(10), 4-1, 1-2, 0-8, 9-3
...National 2-3 Mighty Oaks - 2-3, 6-4, 2-6, 5-11, 4-3
..Sh.Eagles 2-3 Amnanache - 4-2, 5-7, 6-3, 2-15, 5-8


Not all that much to look at comparatively in round 2, with 9 of 10 series being split 3 games to 2. At least that gets the two winless teams off the schneid.

Cheshek 9, Kupore 0: It was Cheshek's lone win of the series, but it was also the season's first shutout, for Kimyu Nele. In his 3-hitter, Nele only allowed 1 walk and punched out 6. Cheshek scored all nine of their runs in the sixth inning, including 2 homers and 5 RBI from new catcher Epencho Posheni in that inning alone.

Keleri 7, Pasataki Galaxy 6 (10 innings): A back-and-forth game that saw multiple ties and four lead changes, overshadowed by the year's first big injury to a starting pitcher: a torn rotator cuff for Pasataki's Cheteko Epofemi. His season ends without a decision, and with just 6 2/3 innings pitched.

Meka 8, Nokir 3: Three home runs for Meka catcher Lilo Kotsypoti, the first time he's done that in his career spanning back to 2013. All three came with runners on, driving in seven runs total.

Standings......W.L
......Keleri.. 8 2
....P.Galaxy.. 7 3
.Mighty Oaks.. 6 4
......Kepmem.. 6 4
......Lutrul.. 6 4
....National.. 6 4
......Kupore.. 6 4
...Amnanache.. 5 5
......Tsapna.. 5 5
......Semyof.. 5 5
.......Nokir.. 5 5
......Hokrof.. 5 5
........Muni.. 5 5
.....Sitache.. 5 5
........Meka.. 4 6
.....Cheshek.. 4 6
Akashemo Utd.. 4 6
-----------------------------
....Mithazni.. 3 7
....Westline.. 3 7
...Sh.Eagles.. 2 8



Next week:

Round 3:
Keleri vs. Hokrof
Meka vs. Semyof
Nokir vs. National
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Kupore
Shunna Municipal vs. Lutrul
BK Kepmem vs. Mighty Oaks
Westline vs. Akashemo United
Sitache vs. Cheshek
Amnanache vs. Tsapna
Mithazni vs. Shunna Eagles

Round 4:
Tsapna vs. Nokir
Hokrof vs. Shunna Municipal
Mighty Oaks vs. Meka
Akashemo United vs. Mithazni
Shunna Eagles vs. Sitache
Lutrul vs. Westline
Kupore vs. BK Kepmem
National vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Semyof vs. Keleri
Cheshek vs. Amnanache

[Ruwisc]

Week 2: March 13-24, 2024

Keleri BC (8-2) @ Hokrof BC (5-5), March 13
Keleri: 2B Kohopa, 3B Tsefufayalo, RF Rarasahiu, 1B Tuemole, CF Pohyfe, SS Raseke, LF Tsuefo, C Sekao, P Nokolo
Hokrof: RF Lopelo, CF Kylchi, 1B Merefife, 3B Pysam, C Ralfa, 2B Oiri, LF Teshelo, SS Sesotsi, P Simuofe
010 100 011 . 4 10 0
000 000 000 . 0 .6 0
W: Kes Nokolo (2-1) L: Chek Simuofe (0-2)

The storyline in this game revolved around Keleri 1B Ouler Tuemole returning to Hokrof as a visiting player for the first time. It's a tale as old as time: a fringe top-level team like Hokrof gives a young player a shot, he makes good, and then leaves to play for the juggernauts. Tuemole played here just 3 years, and isn't much of a personality, but was the team's best hitter for most of that time so he's remembered fondly.

Both teams stranded a runner in the first inning, but the middle of the Keleri lineup came through with some instant offense in frame two. Rarehimi Pohyfe hit Simuofe's first pitch for a single, stole second on the 2nd pitch to Shatso Raseke, and then scored on Raseke's single. It was quiet from then, until Tuemole came up to lead off the fourth inning, and hit a ball off the end of the bat that just carried, carried, carried out to left field and out, his 3rd home run on the young season and first back in his old ballpark.

The rest of the story of the game is good pitching by Keleri, led by young ace Kes Nokolo, but followed by three relievers who allowed a total of two hits. Hokrof only had two runners reach scoring position on the night. Apia Rarasahiu added a homer in the 8th to make it 3-0, and three straight singles produced another run in the 9th for the final margin.

Fun fact: Mapisiu Kohopa led off the game with a walk, then was erased on a double play - that was the only base on balls for either team the entire night.

PotG: Keleri SP Kes Nokolo - 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 7 K, 0 BB, 95 pitches, W

Round 3

.....Keleri 4-1 Hokrof - 4-0, 5-0, 3-1(10), 3-4, 6-2
.......Meka 4-1 Semyof - 5-6, 6-5(11), 9-1, 9-6, 3-2(10)
......Nokir 2-3 National - 6-3(10), 6-5, 2-7, 6-11, 2-7
...Pasataki 1-4 Kupore - 2-0, 3-6, 1-6, 1-8, 0-1
.......Muni 1-4 Lutrul - 2-6, 2-9, 2-1, 7-8, 5-8
..BK Kepmem 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 1-7, 2-3, 2-6, 6-4, 8-9(11)
...Westline 4-1 Akashemo - 6-4, 5-4, 2-1, 0-3, 6-4(10)
....Sitache 2-3 Cheshek - 7-5, 3-14, 3-6, 7-4, 2-3
..Amnanache 3-2 Tsapna - 4-3, 5-3(11), 7-8, 4-3(10), 1-4
...Mithazni 2-3 Sh.Eagles - 8-3, 3-7, 4-2, 3-4, 3-7


Sitache 7, Cheshek 5: While going for a save, Cheshek's Chysho Sofiulo walks the bases loaded, then leaves with elbow discomfort, later diagnosed as arthritis. The EL's all time saves leader is shut down for a couple of months to recover. He's no old man (only 26) so it's a bit worrying. All three runners would come around to score, providing the winning runs for Sitache in the top of the 9th.

Nokir 6, National 3 (10 innings): Nokir's Ketsafumo Tsuefo recorded 9 strong innings with 0 earned runs, but didn't earn a shutout because of the three unearned runs that pushed the game to extras.

Round 4

.....Tsapna 2-3 Nokir - 4-5, 0-3, 10-2, 4-7, 6-3
.....Hokrof 0-5 Muni - 1-4, 3-8, 1-5, 1-2, 2-4
Mighty Oaks 2-3 Meka - 3-2, 6-2, 2-3, 0-1, 2-7
...Akashemo 3-2 Mithazni - 0-6, 2-9, 9-6, 11-5, 4-2
..Sh.Eagles 3-2 Sitache - 7-4, 5-2, 2-4, 10-1, 0-6
.....Lutrul 2-3 Westline - 16-7, 1-13, 3-10, 6-3, 0-4
.....Kupore 3-2 BK Kepmem - 1-3, 9-2, 11-4, 7-5(10), 5-8
...National 3-2 Pasataki - 3-4(10), 3-10, 7-4, 2-0, 5-3
.....Semyof 3-2 Keleri - 2-3, 4-3, 1-4, 7-2, 3-1
....Cheshek 1-4 Amnanache - 5-6, 1-5, 10-0, 3-4, 1-5


Tsapna 10, Nokir 2: Tsapna's Lomunu Awia became the second pitcher to reach the 250 career wins mark with this victory, his second of the season. He trails only Kaso Chalusu, who recorded 303 wins between his EL stints with Nokir, Sipliyak, Penhara, Keleri and Tsapna. In what is now Lokasi baseball lore, the two were teammates during the 2009 season, Chalusu's last season mentoring Awia in his rookie campaign at Tsapna.

Standings..........W..L
-- ......Keleri.. 14 6
+5 ......Kupore.. 13 7
-- .Mighty Oaks.. 12 8
+4 ...Amnanache.. 12 8
-- ......Lutrul.. 12 8
-- ....National.. 12 8
+8 ........Meka.. 11 9
+5 ........Muni.. 11 9
-7 ....P.Galaxy.. 10 10
+9 ....Westline.. 10 10
-- .......Nokir.. 10 10
-3 ......Tsapna... 9 11
-3 ......Semyof... 9 11
10 ......Kepmem... 9 11
-1 .....Sitache... 9 11
-- .....Cheshek... 8 12
-- Akashemo Utd... 8 12
-----------------------------
+2 ...Sh.Eagles... 8 12
-1 ....Mithazni... 7 13
-8 ......Hokrof... 6 14


Rebound week for Westline gets them back to .500 with a pair of series wins, but the team of the week has to be Kupore. I mentioned their tough opening schedule and they've navigated it swimmingly, already carrying series wins over Cheshek, Pasataki Galaxy and BK Kepmem. They've done it on the pitching side, allowing a total of 72 runs in 20 games and holding the Galaxy to a total of an astounding seven runs.

Next week's schedule here:

Round 5:
Nokir vs. Semyof
Westline vs. Shunna Eagles
Keleri vs. Cheshek
Shunna Municipal vs. Kupore
Meka vs. Tsapna
Sitache vs. Mighty Oaks
Amnanache vs. Hokrof
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Akashemo United
BK Kepmem vs. National
Mithazni vs. Lutrul

Round 6:
Hokrof vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Lutrul vs. Meka
Kupore vs. Westline
Cheshek vs. Shunna Municipal
National vs. Amnanache
Shunna Eagles vs. BK Kepmem
Mighty Oaks vs. Mithazni
Akashemo United vs. Nokir
Tsapna vs. Keleri
Semyof vs. Sitache

I'm looking out for the defending champs National this week, as they face a tough pair of opponents (though Kepmem hasn't looked it yet).

[Ruwisc]

Week 3: March 25-April 5, 2024

Meka BC (11-9) @ Tsapna BC (9-11), March 26
Meka: RF Rorale, 1B Fefae, 2B Tsewayo, 3B Otsu, LF Shipeyo, SS Paweshono, CF Hifla, C Kotsypoti, P Wefo
Tsapna: C Fomochi, 3B Mawotsi, RF Toyerno, 1B Ifata, LF Apasarue, SS Nysotof, CF Rolei, 2B Typie, P Ykiteno
284 000 141 . 20 26 0
002 000 000 .. 2 .6 1
W: Fekiu Wefo (2-0) L: Feli Ykiteno (0-1)

The national broadcast this week was a kinda boring 4-1 Westline win over the Eagles - ya wanna see some dingers instead? Meka's high-powered offense hit an incredible nine home runs in this game.

Meka 2B Lesafe Tsewayo drew a plurality of the praise in the game - his two-run shot opened the scoring, and his three-run shot made it 7-0 in the second inning, three batters before Chorusho Paweshono did the same to make it 10-0. Tsewayo would add a third bomb in the 8th inning, going back-to-back with Tisiri Fefae.

Meka phenom 16-year-old pitcher Fekiu Wefo had a decent game on the mound to pick up his second professional win, but I know his lasting memory of the game will be getting a hold of a pitch from Achor Yakom leading off the third inning, keeping it fair down the left field line for his first career hit, a home run. For good measure, Kiowu Rorale hit Yakom's next pitch for a home run too.

PotG: Meka 2B Lesafe Tsewayo - 4-7, 3 HR(10), 6 RBI, K

Round 5

......Nokir 2-3 Semyof - 1-10, 2-4, 4-2, 3-0, 2-5
...Westline 3-2 Sh.Eagles - 4-1, 13-2, 3-7, 1-10, 9-6
.....Keleri 2-3 Cheshek - 8-4, 7-4, 2-4, 3-4, 3-6
.......Muni 2-3 Kupore - 2-3, 0-2, 3-1, 6-4, 1-2
.......Meka 2-3 Tsapna - 20-2, 1-6, 6-4, 1-3, 1-4
....Sitache 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 0-6, 2-10, 4-3, 1-3, 6-11
..Amnanache 4-1 Hokrof - 2-0(10), 8-0, 4-5(11), 11-8, 5-3
...Pasataki 5-0 Akashemo - 3-2, 6-4, 3-1, 4-2, 6-1
..BK Kepmem 4-1 National - 8-1, 5-3, 10-3, 1-8, 5-3
...Mithazni 1-4 Lutrul - 5-9, 5-8, 2-7, 4-10, 4-3


Amnanache 2, Hokrof 0 (10 innings): Hokrof's Chek Simuofe is done for the year with a torn labrum. Hokrof is currently already down 3 of the 5 starters that they began the year with, with Topeshe Shishatata and Tetsots Roshal also dealing with more minor ailments. Things could get ugly for a while, with very little depth. Hokrof will get Tatsasaka Luha back from his torn UCL in about two weeks, & he'll be much appreciated.

Nokir 3, Semyof 0: Nokir loses SP Shoki Apylsho for the season to a torn rotator cuff. He was off to a rough start & now that start has crystallized on the back of his baseball card. Good news for Nokir: SP Yeweko Siakapi is ahead of schedule on his injury rehab, and is now expected back next week.

Westline 9, Shunna Eagles 6: three home runs for Westline's 2B Nukacholo Riseki tonight. All three were solo shots, despite the fact that Wyshuo Aliso had three hits right in front of him in the order (they did go back-to-back in the 5th inning).

Round 6

.....Hokrof 1-4 Pasataki - 2-3, 2-7, 11-2(10), 5-7, 4-11
.....Lutrul 4-1 Meka - 6-5, 2-4, 5-3, 7-2, 4-3
.....Kupore 2-3 Westline - 10-5, 0-7, 1-4, 5-3(12), 4-7
....Cheshek 2-3 Muni - 0-1(11), 4-1, 0-1(10), 2-7, 3-1
...National 1-4 Amnanache - 4-6, 0-2, 2-6, 6-5, 0-3
..Sh.Eagles 3-2 BK Kepmem - 0-10, 7-4, 8-0, 3-6, 8-3
Mighty Oaks 3-2 Mithazni - 8-4, 9-4, 1-2(10), 1-6, 7-2
...Akashemo 0-5 Nokir - 0-8, 4-5, 8-12, 8-11, 4-5
.....Tsapna 2-3 Keleri - 5-6, 6-4, 7-6, 5-6, 1-7
.....Semyof 4-1 Sitache - 8-0, 0-7, 6-5(10), 4-1, 9-5(10)


Mighty Oaks 9, Mithazni 4: Mighty Oaks' SP Palfa Ninelhepi is being shut down for the season, having nerve decompression surgery on his left elbow. A former Pitcher of the Year in 2018, Ninelhepi has struggled particularly with back injuries over the past few seasons, but this appears to be a new ailment.

Westline 7, Kupore 0: A shutout for Westline's Sefti Merefife. The 2021 Pitcher of the Year scattered 5 hits and walked no one. Westline was up 7-0 after the third inning, so the result was very rarely in doubt.

Hokrof 11, Pasataki Galaxy 2 (10 innings): Not a typo - Hokrof actually scored 9 runs in the tenth inning. The Galaxy made four errors in the game, including two in the fateful 10th, in which only 3 of the 9 runs were marked as earned.

Standings..........W..L
+3 ...Amnanache.. 20 10
+3 ......Lutrul.. 20 10
-- .Mighty Oaks.. 19 11
-3 ......Keleri.. 19 11
+4 ....P.Galaxy.. 19 11
-4 ......Kupore.. 18 12
+4 .......Nokir.. 17 13
+5 ......Semyof.. 16 14
+1 ....Westline.. 16 14
-2 ........Muni.. 16 14
+3 ......Kepmem.. 15 15
-5 ........Meka.. 14 16
-1 ......Tsapna.. 14 16
-8 ....National.. 14 16
+1 .....Cheshek.. 13 17
+2 ...Sh.Eagles.. 13 17
-2 .....Sitache.. 11 19
-----------------------------
+1 ....Mithazni.. 10 20
-2 Akashemo Utd... 8 22
-- ......Hokrof... 8 22


A lot will still change, but it's weird to look at the standings right now. A lot of teams seem to be out of place, especially struggling strong teams like National, Tsapna and Westline. Having Amnanache and Lutrul at the top, who have been the very definition of average the last few years, is also strange.

March awards:

Batter of the Month: Westline 1B Peku Karwo - .418, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 24 R. He just does everything right!

Pitcher of the Month: Nokir closer Cheshore Matsef - 10 saves, 0.00 ERA, 13 IP in 12 appearances, 13 K/2 BB, 8 hits allowed. A spectacular start for a guy returning to the Elite League for the first time in six years. He picked up three more saves in the Akashemo series (in April), still having not allowed a run, to give him 13 saves on the young season already in just 17 Nokir victories.

Rookie of the Month: Amnanache CF Marte Choap - .356, 36 hits, 6 HR, 28 RBI. Amnanache really needed a dive buddy for 2B Peche Iyikio, and they finally have that in Choap. Not playing well defensively in center - should probably be in RF - but hitting very well.

Next week, two big tests for Amnanache - if they are for real, this is probably the week that we'll find out:

Round 7:
Akashemo United vs. Hokrof
Cheshek vs. Shunna Eagles
Meka vs. Keleri
Kupore vs. Lutrul
Semyof vs. National
Shunna Municipal vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Amnanache vs. Westline
Sitache vs. BK Kepmem
Tsapna vs. Mighty Oaks
Nokir vs. Mithazni

Round 8:
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Amnanache
Mithazni vs. Meka
Mighty Oaks vs. Shunna Municipal
BK Kepmem vs. Nokir
National vs. Tsapna
Lutrul vs. Cheshek
Shunna Eagles vs. Akashemo United
Westline vs. Semyof
Keleri vs. Sitache
Hokrof vs. Kupore

[Ruwisc]

Week 4: April 6-17, 2024

News from last week that didn't make it into a news story for some reason: Sitache OF Monisho Hefie suffered an ugly broken leg while sliding into second base in the middle game of their series with Semyof last weekend. Hefie has an interesting history - he came up with Onesti BC (Oyefit, CA, between Ransu and Nokelto), and became a superstar at the Second League level, winning three straight MVP awards in the 2L (2017-19). It was only at age 22 that he got an EL contract, this being his third year at Sitache. At this level, he's a good player but not a great one. His former team, Onesti, was relegated from the 2L last season in their second year without him. Hefie will be out with his injury until around the end of June.

Tsapna BC (15-18) @ Mighty Oaks BC (21-12), April 11
Tsapna: C Fomochi, 3B Mawotsi, RF Toyerno, 2B Ifata, SS Nysotof, CF Rolei, 1B Wysesyhach, LF Apasarue, P Perano
Mighty Oaks: 3B Kilutsa, CF Salama, RF Sefenera, LF Misha, C Olufapo, 2B Fetiloa, 1B Tsefufayalo, SS Potamesa, P Aefep
231 100 820 . 17 18 0
000 000 000 .. 0 10 1
W: Setsinak Perano (3-1) L: Siteno Aefep (1-3)

No obvious standout games from the beginning of the week, so I'm picking a rebound game for Tsapna, as they sit lower than they would like in the table and have already dropped two of the first three in this series from Aroketsil. Plus, last week's featured game featured them getting absolutely clobbered, so here's a little fairness doctrine in action.

Still a few days from seeing RF Iti Tashete and 2B Lawori El returning to the lineup, Tsapna's batting order is weakened from its usual strength - like, everyone seems to like Tila Wysesyhach but he's probably not an EL player long-term. Still, you could have been fooled while seeing him hit a grand slam in the 7th inning.

Tsapna jumped on Aefep early, Pusituli Fomochi hitting a leadoff home run and the following rally producing an RBI hit for Kysatse Nysotof. Could have been worse than two runs if Nysotof hadn't gotten himself picked off afterwards.

The second-inning rally was the real killer, though: with no on and two out, Oaks 1B Tylu Tsefufayalo booted a ground ball, allowing Shesho Aparasue to reach. If you're Mighty Oaks manager Tishe Loap, you're thinking "well darn, they got through the pitcher's spot in the order", but it got much worse: Aefep threw a wild pitch, and Perano's eventual single up the middle allowed Aparasue to score, and subsequent hits by Fomochi and Pomi Mawotsi produced two more runs for Tsapna.

Perano cruised, scattering hits and only leaving in the 7th inning after allowing Niresilo Fetiloa to double off of him. 6 1/3 innings, 7 H, 0 R, 4 K/2 BB. Tsapna piled in on against the bullpen, particularly Tsira Nenatei, who did not record an out and allowed more earned runs in the 7th inning (4) than in his other 11 appearances combined (3). Every player in the Tsapna lineup other than Aparasue drove in at least one run, and everyone but Mawotsi scored at least one run.

PotG: Tsapna C Pusituli Fomochi - 3-3, 2 HR(9), 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 R

Round 7

...Akashemo 4-1 Hokrof - 6-1, 9-7, 1-4, 8-3, 7-5
....Cheshek 4-1 Sh.Eagles - 4-3, 4-1, 2-1, 3-9, 4-1
.......Meka 4-1 Keleri - 3-2(11), 5-3, 6-7(11), 6-4, 7-5
.....Kupore 2-3 Lutrul - 2-4, 7-2, 1-2, 6-2, 2-3(10)
.....Semyof 2-3 National - 4-3, 0-6, 5-8, 5-7, 3-1
.......Muni 3-2 Pasataki - 3-2, 3-1(10) 9-7, 3-4, 0-2
..Amnanache 0-5 Westline - 5-8, 5-8, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
....Sitache 3-2 BK Kepmem - 7-5, 4-3, 7-4, 6-12, 2-6
.....Tsapna 3-2 Mighty Oaks - 4-5, 4-3, 3-14, 17-0, 7-3
......Nokir 2-3 Mithazni - 4-5, 7-4, 1-6, 8-3, 2-3


So, about that big test for first-place Amnanache... the normally steadfast Orange pitching staff was blistered by Westline, giving up 35 runs in five games. Dual aces Tirionu and Latsychano only combined to pitch 7 innings in the first 2 games, and gave up 12 earned runs together.

The team of the round is certainly Meka - you would not expect them to go into Hefem and take 4 of 5 from Keleri. They're about to do the same against Hefem's other team, though at home.

Tsapna 7, Mighty Oaks 3: The story of this series finale was supposed to be star infielder Lawori El making his return to the Tsapna lineup after 2 1/2 weeks on the IL with a hamstring strain. Unfortunately, he sustained a strained oblique muscle while sliding into home plate in the 9th inning, and is likely to miss another three weeks. Tsapna, having already used up most of their bench, was forced to play backup catcher Sute Ninichu at second base in the 9th as a result.

Round 8

...Pasataki 4-1 Amnanache - 11-0, 5-3, 1-2, 14-5, 8-6
...Mithazni 1-4 Meka - 4-10, 4-6, 3-11, 10-1, 1-3
Mighty Oaks 3-2 Muni - 2-0, 4-5, 3-2, 7-6(10), 1-4
..BK Kepmem 1-4 Nokir - 5-6, 3-10, 10-5, 5-11, 2-8
...National 2-3 Tsapna - 0-1, 3-6, 9-11(11), 3-2, 4-2(12)
.....Lutrul 3-2 Cheshek - 4-1, 0-4, 4-0, 3-5, 7-2
..Sh.Eagles 2-3 Akashemo - 8-9, 13-5, 0-2, 2-1, 1-6
...Westline 3-2 Semyof - 0-5, 4-2, 0-2, 3-2(10), 7-2
.....Keleri 2-3 Sitache - 5-1, 1-9, 10-1(10), 1-3, 3-17
.....Hokrof 0-5 Kupore - 1-6, 1-5, 1-3, 0-5, 2-6


The week of big tests for Amnanache has been a resounding failure, as they drop 9 of 10 games and allow more than 7 runs per game in doing so. Guess they're not quite ready to play with the big boys juuust yet.

Semyof 5, Westline 0: A shutout for Semyof's Chasolo Latemohi, holding the currently league-leading Westline offense to six singles, and beating reigning PoY Tula Mitonone in the process. He only walked one batter, struck out nine, and induced 3 ground ball double plays.

Shunna Municipal 4, Mighty Oaks 1: with a single and a triple in this loss, Oaks 3B Netomue Kilutsa became the first EL player this season to reach a 20-game hit streak. Kilutsa missed the season's first 11 games but has been the Oaks' best hitter in the month or so's worth of games he has played in.

Standings..........W..L
+1 ......Lutrul.. 26 14
+3 ....P.Galaxy.. 25 15
+3 ......Kupore.. 25 15
-1 .Mighty Oaks.. 24 16
+4 ....Westline.. 24 16
+1 .......Nokir.. 23 17
+5 ........Meka.. 22 18
-4 ......Keleri.. 22 18
-8 ...Amnanache.. 21 19
-- ........Muni.. 21 19
+2 ......Tsapna.. 20 20
-4 ......Semyof.. 20 20
+2 .....Cheshek.. 19 21
-- ....National.. 19 21
-4 ......Kepmem.. 18 22
+1 .....Sitache.. 17 23
-1 ...Sh.Eagles.. 16 24
-----------------------------
+1 Akashemo Utd.. 15 25
-1 ....Mithazni.. 14 26
-- ......Hokrof... 9 31


The standings are still pretty chaotic, moreso than usual I feel. At this time last year, the Oaks and National were already a bit separated from the pack, and the top 4 teams were the eventual top 4 finishers. That doesn't feel like it's gonna happen this time.

Really bad week for Hokrof. If it was possible to clinch relegation in April, it would look like this. Kupore is the league's #1 pitching staff so far (never thought I'd say that), but still, to only score 5 runs in an entire series is pretty sad.

In round 9, the current leaders go to Tsapna, though the marquee series is probably Westline/Keleri. At the weekend, Oaks/Galaxy will draw eyeballs, but I'll also be looking out for National/Kupore. Next week's full schedule here:

Round 9:
Cheshek vs. National
Kupore vs. Mithazni
Lutrul vs. Tsapna
Shunna Eagles vs. Semyof
Akashemo United vs. Mighty Oaks
Westline vs. Keleri
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Sitache
Amnanache vs. Nokir
Shunna Municipal vs. Meka
Hokrof vs. BK Kepmem

Round 10:
Nokir vs. Lutrul
Semyof vs. Akashemo United
Sitache vs. Amnanache
Keleri vs. Shunna Municipal
National vs. Kupore
Tsapna vs. Hokrof
Meka vs. Shunna Eagles
Mighty Oaks vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Mithazni vs. Cheshek
BK Kepmem vs. Westline

[Ruwisc]

Week 5: April 18-29, 2024

I find it personally helpful, when thinking about the Lokasi sports landscape, to compare different cities and teams to rough American equivalents, not always based in baseball. I've never gone through and mapped out "this team is this, this team is this" or anything - much of this is stuff that I am coming up with right now, on the spot - but if you're wanting to find a Lokasi team to root for, maybe this will help.

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

Ransu : New York, and is home to six EL teams:

• Semyof : the Yankees. They have pinstripes, are the team that people most associate with the city... and also haven't won anything since the 2000s

• Tsapna : if the Giants had never moved to San Francisco. Lots of history, not that many championships to show for it, until recently

• Westline : the Mets. More of a vibe than a historical comparison, new money

• Amnanache : the Islanders. Culturally a bit of a weird fit, not playing downtown, not quite as prestigious as their neighbors but still have a lot going on

• Cheshek : St. John's basketball. Difficult one to come up with a comparison for. Nobody really dislikes them all that much, but people will still be surprised if you tell them you're a Cheshek fan above all

• Lutrul : the Nets. Lutrul is a rough equivalent to Brooklyn anyway, but the comparison works either way. More successful than the Nets, though, with a championship in the last 15 years

Shunna : Washington DC

• National : the Capitals. Hung around for a while, really started to get good in the mid-2000s, finally broke through with a recent championship

• Shunna Eagles : the Nationals, ironically. Really good that one time, but can often be forgettable

• Shunna Municipal : DC United (MLS). I don't think there's a good comp for Muni in the DC area, but their heyday was the late 90s & they haven't been that good lately, so that at least works

Hefem : Dallas

• Keleri : if the Cowboys were as good as Jerry Jones thinks they should be. Arguably taken over the mantle of the nation's most prestigious team

• Mithazni : the UFL Renegades. Pretty new to the spotlight, but given long enough, hope they can take eyeballs away from the big dog in town

The other 9 teams in the league are the only representatives of their city/local area:

• Nokir : the LA Dodgers, right after the McCourts sold the team. Definitely viewed as a "sleeping giant"

• Pasataki Galaxy : the Golden State Warriors. New, exciting scoring juggernaut. In the "Tsawemoko = California" comparison, Pasataki most corresponds to the Bay Area

• Mighty Oaks : the Atlanta Braves, but a bit more successful. The Ketsis region is reasonably correspondent with the Carolinas, but Atlanta also kinda fits for Aroketsil and the Braves have the recent success to mostly back up the comparison

• Sitache : Boston College. Sitache=Boston isn't a perfect comparison but it's good enough, though none of Boston's pro teams are likable enough to work

• Hokrof : the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite being coastal, the northwest of Lokasi is most similar to the Upper Midwest

• Kupore: the Carolina Hurricanes. Somno is the third-largest metro primarily in the Ketsis, so Raleigh feels about right

• BK Kepmem : the Tampa Bay Rays. Should be a small-market team in a warm-weather relatively touristy part of the country, but play above their station.

• Akashemo United : the A's, if they ever make it to Vegas. Akashemo (United) is a bit of an underdog, and Akashemo (comma Rupakare) is a noted vacation destination

• Meka : if the Green Bay Packers were added to the NFL in 2023 out of nowhere. American comparisons are a bit difficult because towns as small as Meka don't get big sports teams. Green Bay is probably still too big as a comparison but it's the right aura

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

Cheshek BC (19-21) @ National BC (19-21), April 18
Cheshek: LF Atswue, RF Tyheshina, 1B Arachihe, 3B Aleshake, 2B Aefep, CF Nit, SS Rusipfa, C Fakuwi, P Pyshachfi
National: 1B Toyerno, SS Rehefeo, C Sichi, RF Sapolepu, LF Shoaisu, 3B Sichayoeko, CF Yalai, 2B Rima, P Ponarf
003 110 001 . 6 .8 0
001 310 002 . 7 13 1
W: Rilokena Shelok (1-1) L: Ratsat Chatsema (0-4)

Both teams resting a few regulars, National playing for the 9th day in a row and Cheshek for the 7th. As the nation-wide evening broadcast & only game in the EL on the 18th, they had the following day off. Wish I could designate the week-opener as "prestigious" in the schedule or something.

The Cheshek pitcher is a new name for me - Serpefu Pyshachfi is filling in in the rotation while Tonna Tsetanipacho is on the IL. He ended up having a bit of a tough night, but that has actually been uncharacteristic - he's been pretty good.

Anyway, let's look at the actual game. National got the first crack at scoring, and stranded a man on third base in each of the first two innings. Both teams would then score in each of the next three innings. In the top of the 3rd, it was the pitcher Pyshachfi who got the Cheshek rally started by sneaking a single just past Uwilo Rima up the middle. Tukefa Atswue stroked a clean hit to right ahead of the much-maligned (by me, at least) Manna Tyheshina, who homered to give Cheshek a 3-0 lead.

The teams traded small-ball-based single runs to make it 4-1 before 3 National hits, capped by a 2-run Chorep Toyerno homer, tied the game. Again single runs for each team in the 5th, including Rima's first home run in two years, and the two teams went into the endgame tied at 5.

The bullpens each took over in the 6th and the game really sped up - a grand total of 1 hit in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings. In the top of the 9th, pinch-hitting for Chirila Aefep, typical starting catcher Epencho Posheni led off with a first-pitch double, and after a pair of walks loaded the bases, Ketso Kofmi (who had entered on a double-switch earlier) gave Cheshek the lead with a sac fly. But the lead wouldn't last. With a number of defensive subs on, Chatsema never gave them a chance to save anything, walking Rehefeo and allowing Wupu Sichi to hit the next pitch for a walk-off two-run homer.

PotG: National C Wupu Sichi - 3-5, walk-off HR(1), 2 RBI. This was only Sichi's 8th start of the season behind regular catcher Chafosu Seshate - made it count this time.

Round 9

....Cheshek 2-3 National - 6-7, 5-1, 2-6, 6-5, 4-7
.....Kupore 3-2 Mithazni - 4-3, 3-4, 5-9, 3-2, 2-0
.....Lutrul 4-1 Tsapna - 6-5, 3-5, 9-5(10), 17-2, 10-3
..Sh.Eagles 2-3 Semyof - 5-8, 2-12, 3-4, 10-4(10), 6-5
...Akashemo 2-3 Mighty Oaks - 3-2(10), 3-10, 3-4, 5-4(10), 2-6
...Westline 3-2 Keleri - 6-2, 1-5, 3-8, 2-1, 5-1
...Pasataki 2-3 Sitache - 5-6, 2-4, 6-7, 9-2, 5-1
..Amnanache 4-1 Nokir - 6-4(10), 4-13, 8-4, 6-4, 7-1
.......Muni 2-3 Meka - 1-6, 0-4, 1-0, 5-4, 2-3
.....Hokrof 2-3 BK Kepmem - 10-11(10), 6-1, 0-18, 5-4, 4-6


Akashemo United 3, Mighty Oaks 2 (10 innings): the freshly-minted 20-game hit streak for Oaks 3B Netomue Kilutsa is snapped as soon as it becomes newsworthy. Kilutsa was 0-4, but was hit by a pitch, so I guess it's an on-base streak now.

Semyof 8, Shunna Eagles 5: Eagles SP Wotsapayi Patepa is being shut down for the season with severe shoulder inflammation after exiting in the 2nd inning in this game. The Eagles had such rotten injury luck in the rotation last year - more of the same?

Shunna Municipal 5, Meka 4: Devastating - against the first batter he faces following a year-long recovery process from Tommy John, Muni's Shaho Reopo tears his repaired UCL again. Another lost year for the 23-year-old.

Round 10

......Nokir 3-2 Lutrul - 5-3, 5-10, 3-2, 5-4, 2-7
.....Semyof 2-3 Akashemo - 1-4, 0-7, 7-9, 5-4, 12-2
....Sitache 2-3 Amnanache - 1-3, 11-4, 9-7, 3-5, 2-7
.....Keleri 2-3 Muni - 2-3, 8-3, 2-9, 8-9, 4-0
...National 2-3 Kupore - 2-5, 2-6, 1-5, 9-1, 9-4
.....Tsapna 4-1 Hokrof - 7-2, 4-3, 3-2, 4-3(11), 6-9
.......Meka 3-2 Sh.Eagles - 10-5, 4-3, 2-9, 7-4, 6-7
Mighty Oaks 3-2 Pasataki - 2-3, 1-9, 8-6(10), 2-1, 9-3
...Mithazni 4-0 Cheshek - 6-5, 6-3, 5-2, 4-3, PPD
..BK Kepmem 2-3 Westline - 1-3, 3-5, 2-4, 2-1, 3-2


Sitache 11, Amnanache 4: Despite the loss, Amnanache 1B/OF Taekeche Punisha became the latest to reach a 20-game hit streak, and did actually carry it through the end of the week at 23 games, making his streak the longest of the year. Not really a prototypical power position hitter, Punisha has been Amnanache's leadoff hitter this year.

Shunna Municipal 9, Keleri 2: Muni catcher Rina Kifusitu is the latest to bag a three-homer game. He only came to the plate four times, also garnering a walk.

Standings..........W..L
-- ......Lutrul.. 32 18
+1 ......Kupore.. 31 19
+1 .Mighty Oaks.. 30 20
+1 ....Westline.. 30 20
-3 ....P.Galaxy.. 29 21
+1 ........Meka.. 28 22
+2 ...Amnanache.. 28 22
-2 .......Nokir.. 27 23
-1 ......Keleri.. 26 24
-- ........Muni.. 26 24
+1 ......Semyof.. 25 25
-1 ......Tsapna.. 25 25
+1 ....National.. 24 26
+1 ......Kepmem.. 23 27
+1 .....Sitache.. 22 28
-3 .....Cheshek.. 21 28
+2 ....Mithazni.. 20 29
-----------------------------
-- Akashemo Utd.. 20 30
-2 ...Sh.Eagles.. 20 30
-- ......Hokrof.. 12 38


Continues to be a very crowded top of the table. I have absolutely no sense for how this season is going to shake out, now more than a quarter of the way over. Next post will be a stats & lower leagues update to mark the occasion.

In round 11, the current leaders will face a tough road test at the Oaks, and round 12 finally gives us the first Shunna derby of the year with National/Eagles. Full week 6 schedule:

Round 11:
Westline vs. Nokir
Akashemo United vs. Sitache
Kupore vs. Meka
Amnanache vs. Keleri
Cheshek vs. Semyof
Lutrul vs. Mighty Oaks
Shunna Eagles vs. Tsapna
Shunna Municipal vs. BK Kepmem
Hokrof vs. National
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Mithazni

Round 12:
Keleri vs. Akashemo United
Tsapna vs. Westline
Sitache vs. Kupore
National vs. Shunna Eagles
Mighty Oaks vs. Hokrof
Semyof vs. Lutrul
Meka vs. Amnanache
BK Kepmem vs. Cheshek
Nokir vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Mithazni vs. Shunna Municipal

[Ruwisc]

2024 Quarter Pole - Elite League Stats Update

Lots of new blood in the stats races with 50 of 190 games played (so, just past the 1/4 point of the season). Let's see who the surprise hitters and pitchers are:

Batting race:
CF Topeshe Tsaruo - .375
CF Yaropatso Kesia - .363
1B Fomo Tirma - .363

Tsaruo is a budding star as a rookie - I touted him as a potential future home run king in the offseason, but he might be a more complete player than I was anticipating. Tirma is probably the betting favorite to win the batting crown, given that he's done it twice before. Defending batting champ Peku Karwo of Westline is 6th with a .355.

Home runs:
1B Fimshi Piso - 24
2B Lesafe Tsewayo - 18
1B Ilye Nofetso - 17
3B Misote Teshelo - 17

Piso, 25, has been on a five-week heater - he's hit at least one home run in every series Nokir has played, and multiple in most. Not someone I was familiar with before this season at all - he had previously played only one season in the EL, with the Eagles in 2017 as they were relegated.

RBI:
1B Ilye Nofetso - 61
1B Fimshi Piso - 50
1B Wia Merefife - 48

At this (very early) point in the season, Nofetso is my choice for league MVP, leading the surprise first-place team and just as surprising top-ranked offense.

Position player WAR:
LF Faruo Ayekrea - 3.4
1B Ilye Nofetso - 3.2
2B Oma Feputso - 3.1

Ayekrea is in his 7th EL season (3rd with Kepmem), and only once has he accrued more strikeouts than walks. He leads the EL in OBP, in addition to his usual stellar defense in the outfield. Oma Feputso hasn't been mentioned much - he's another "great defense + walks" type like Ayekrea, and also leads Mithazni with 15 homers.

Stolen bases:
LF Tukefa Atswue - 20
SS Ketso Kofmi - 18
2B Oma Kohopa - 16

Same story as last year, Cheshek is absolutely running wild on everybody. Atswue and Kofmi share the league lead in stolen base attempts, but Kofmi has been caught two more times.

ERA:
Notsimi Feshasu - 2.03
Kimyu Nele - 2.07
Epencho Latsychano - 2.32

Nele, in his 2nd EL season (5th pro season) has taken a huge leap forward. He's about 3/4 of the way to surpassing last season's WAR total, and this ERA is less than half of what he recorded in 2023 (4.43).

Last year's unanimous PoY, Tula Mitonone, is nowhere to be found on the leaderboards - he's been struggling mightily to repeat that standout performance.

Wins:
Wucha Tekake - 7-1
Kimyu Nele - 6-1
Notsimi Feshasu - 6-2
Sefti Merefife - 6-2
Kiposo Simuofe - 6-3

At National, the offense has been more of a reason for the slow start than pitching. Still, it's odd that the league's wins leader is on a below-.500 team - Tekake, a rookie, is the only National starter who has recorded more than 2 wins.

Saves:
Cheshore Matsef - 17
Leset Kakosuta - 16
Sosuo Lotechosa - 15

Matsef's ERA is no longer literally zero - he allowed a three-run homer two weeks ago against Kepmem. That's all, though, and Nokir still won that game. Nokir is 19-3 when he pitches, and 8-20 when he does not.

Strikeouts:
Iraite Nisushi - 72
Sefti Merefife - 71
Pecho Tsytemoi - 70

Nisushi's closer pedigree is serving him well in this department. This is his first year starting, and he's not had too much trouble with the workload... so far... averaging an even 6 innings per start.

Pitcher WAR:
Sefti Merefife - 2.5
Tosolefi Loap - 2.5
Iraite Nisushi - 2.0

Loap hasn't been seen here yet - he's 4th on the ERA leaderboard. Due to some tough luck with run support but especially with his bullpen blowing games, he has just a 2-1 win-loss record in 11 starts.

----------

Lower Leagues Update

Second League
Standings.....W..L
....Otahel City.. 34 16
......A.Spirits.. 34 16
.Nokelto Scouts.. 32 18
-----------------------------
..........Fachi.. 30 20
.....A.Canaries.. 30 20
........Takanse.. 29 21
..Swans Menmapa.. 27 23
.Ransu Shockers.. 27 23
..Killi.Bayside.. 26 24
.....Yoho Bears.. 25 25
...........Fese.. 24 26
........Tishmin.. 24 26
........Penhara.. 23 27
.....Nipte City.. 23 27
........Fampalo.. 22 28
....Nokelto Utd.. 21 29
-----------------------------
.........Wichku.. 20 30
..Tenshe.Rubies.. 18 32
..Sowichark Utd.. 16 34
Killitash Stars.. 15 35


The three leaders in the 2L are all teams that have been relegated recently (Otahel City and Aroketsil Spirits last year, Nokelto Scouts the year before), but there are still a few surprises. Fachi is a total enigma to me: often afterthoughts in Hokrof behind the city's flagship team, they have achieved 5 promotions in the last 12 years to get to this level. But what's more confusing is how they're in 4th place at all - the team doesn't actually seem to be good at anything. Their run differential is a measly +1 (209 scored, 208 allowed), and even that seems to be a bit lucky with most of their underlying numbers being pretty crappy.

At the bottom, the other three of last year's promoted teams (Wichku, Sowichark, K-Stars) are struggling, but Fampalo has to be the biggest disappointment given they came into the year with the same blank slate as the top two.

Northern Premier League
Standings.....W..L
............Pale.. 38 12
..........Yasral.. 37 13
-----------------------------
...........Linir.. 31 19
...Sunoki Hearts.. 31 19
Pelpitimochu Utd.. 30 20
..........Onesti.. 29 21
.....Ransu Ports.. 29 21
........Moonside.. 29 21
....Tsutonsu Utd.. 26 24
........Lisa Utd.. 25 25
Enihaka Cyclones.. 24 26
.......Atafe Utd.. 23 27
.........Shalish.. 23 27
.......Moshelosi.. 23 27
......Y.Warriors.. 22 28
.Alilia Captains.. 21 29
-----------------------------
..........Oyefit.. 17 33
...........Losap.. 17 33
............Kine.. 14 36
............Lulo.. 11 39


All four relegated teams from last year's 2L are in this division, which creates some interesting dynamics. All four are in the top 6 currently, but Pale, a town roughly the same size as Meka and not too far away, is the current leader.

Southern Premier League
Standings.....W..L
.........Sokroch.. 41 9
......Hiolye Utd.. 33 17
-----------------------------
.........Wikyats.. 32 18
......Feshuyalya.. 31 19
.........Rasenok.. 31 19
........Sachlihe.. 27 23
Killitash Giants.. 27 23
...........Hilas.. 27 23
.........Himespo.. 24 26
....Tinshenikosh.. 24 26
South Shore Aksa.. 23 27
...Mamtul Wolves.. 22 28
.........Shepero.. 21 29
....Aksa Hornets.. 21 29
.....Hechemi Utd.. 20 30
.........Mewofes.. 20 30
-----------------------------
.........Loshtsi.. 20 30
.........Neshori.. 20 30
......Tokos City.. 18 32
.........Amkutan.. 18 32


Sokroch (Pasataki) was a fringe EL team in the alt-universe original version of the pyramid. A single-digit number of losses at this point in the season is absurd - they've won every series they've played, with more sweeps than 3-2s.

Lower League Leaders

Tier 4:

Northern Super League - Mimo United (Mimo, CA): 29-15
Southern Super League - Hefem Rangers (Hefem, EM): 33-11

Tier 5:

Mideast League One - Ehosh Blues (Ehosh, EM): 22-8
Northeast League One - Shosha Rangers (Shosha, CA): 22-8
Southern League One - Wulu BC (Aksa, ZA): 19-11
Western League One - Kepits City (Kepits, SE): 22-8

Tier 6:

Mideast League Two - Rulakyu BC (Rulakyu, SE): 20-10
Northeast League Two - Sirshofyesh BC (Yukos, LS): 20-10
Southern League Two - Netserat BC (Netserat, ZA): 20-10
Western League Two - Yahofel Thunderbolts (Yahofel, PE): 25-5

The eight Tier 7 Regional Championships are just underway, having played a pair of 4-game series this week. Congratulations to the Ransu Bears for being the lone undefeated team left at 8-0.

[Ruwisc]

Week 6: April 30-May 11, 2024

Last full week before the early trade deadline. A few small deals were completed this week but I'll consolidate all of that into one post later on.

April awards:

Batter of the Month: Nokir 1B Fimshi Piso - .363, 14 HR, 30 RBI, 36 R, .449 OBP. Piso's scouting reports are very underwhelming compared to his production, so it's really hard to say if this is a fluke. The most recent report says that he "could be" a 25-home-run hitter. Well, he's on pace for about 75-80 at the moment.

Pitcher of the Month: Meka SP Fum Pese - 4-0, 32.2 IP, 1.38 ERA, .183 BAA, 28 K/6 BB. Meka has done a good job attracting young pitching talent to the prairies, with the combination of Pese (17) and Fekiu Wefo (16) set to lead this team for a while.

Rookie of the Month: Shunna Eagles CF Topeshe Tsaruo - .355, 8 HR, 21 RBI. Tsaruo is a pretty polished hitter already, despite being 17; he no longer leads the batting race as of this week, but does lead the EL in slugging percentage and OPS. The Eagles would definitely be in an even worse position without him.

Lutrul BC (32-18) @ Mighty Oaks BC (30-20), April 30
Lutrul: LF Sheotel, 2B Toyerno, 1B Nofetso, SS Hofohe, RF Mpetu, C Peitota, 3B Meyoniso, CF Yelishike, P Roshoshe
Mighty Oaks: 3B Kilutsa, 1B Uepepa, RF Misha, C Olufapo, 2B Fetiloa, LF Salama, CF Shashynta, SS Mametsiu, P Feshasu
200 000 110 . 4 7 0
001 000 000 . 1 7 0
W: Otsi Roshoshe (5-0) L: Notsimi Feshasu (6-3) S: Chitipa Fyhy (14)

Not as bad as last week in terms of regulars sitting, though the Oaks' star RF, Peyaka Sefenera, still has the night off. This is the first career start for Lutrul CF Memo Yelishike.

Lutrul entered the week as surprise leaders in the Elite League, led by a young, scrappy and potent offense, and entering one of the more hostile environments in the EL, they showed why they're leading the league in run scoring right away. Fayafo Sheotel and Hypuse Toyerno both reached to start the game, and the talismanic Ilye Nofetso drove both in with a triple into the gap to make it 2-0 before Feshasu, one of the league's top pitchers, could even record an out.

Roshoshe flirted with danger all night - in five of the first six innings, the leadoff man reached base for the Mighty Oaks. The only Oaks run was scored by Feshasu, actually, after he reached on a 9-pitch walk to start the third and eventually scored on Tula Misha's groundout. Feshasu, for his part, had a decent night on the hill as wel, allowing just 5 hits over 7 innings. A third run did score off of him, Shei Meyoniso's 2nd home run of the season (and just 7th of his career, though he would hit two more later in the series) in the 7th inning.

Three Lutrul relievers combined to retire 7 of the 8 batters they faced, resulting in a straightforward save for Fyhy. Suddenly, Lutrul is looking... real? This gave them a 1 1/2 game lead over the field.

PotG: Lutrul SP Otsi Roshoshe - 6 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K/3 BB


Round 11

...Westline 2-3 Nokir - 7-1, 2-4, 1-3, 4-5(10), 5-4
...Akashemo 2-3 Sitache - 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 3-4, 7-3
.....Kupore 2-3 Meka - 5-7, 6-4, 4-3, 4-8, 5-7
..Amnanache 1-4 Keleri - 1-4, 8-6, 0-1(10), 0-7, 2-9
....Cheshek 2-3 Semyof - 0-1, 6-4, 6-9, 2-3, 4-3(10)
.....Lutrul 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 4-1, 1-2, 5-6, 4-5, 1-11
..Sh.Eagles 3-2 Tsapna - 1-5, 4-1, 3-7, 3-0, 5-2
.......Muni 2-3 BK Kepmem - 7-8, 2-3, 5-2, 1-4, 8-5
.....Hokrof 0-5 National - 6-7, 7-12, 2-4, 3-4, 5-9
...Pasataki 4-1 Mithazni - 2-0, 5-3, 4-6, 5-4, 4-0


...or not. The Oaks came back to sweep the other four games of the series, putting themselves into first place, a game over Kupore. Thanks to two days off during the series, Notsimi Feshasu even pitched again in the last game, completely shutting down the Lutrul offense and setting a season high with 13 Ks.

Keleri 1, Amnanache 0 (10 innings): despite the extra frame, Amnanache LF Taekeche Punisha had his 25-game hit streak snapped in this game. Amnanache only accrued four hits as a team, shut down by Machechohy Yoshesi and four relievers. Former Amnanache closer Toe Teshelo picked up the win in relief for Keleri.

Semyof 9, Cheshek 6: also in a loss, Cheshek 1B Syshawe Arachihe hit three home runs in the game, the first time he's done that in his career. Cheshek is struggling mightily overall; I wouldn't put that on Arachihe's shoulders, but he isn't hitting quite as well as he did last year.

Keleri 9, Amnanache 2: A big loss for Keleri; they'll be without ace SP Kes Nokolo for at least 3 months, dealing with bone chips in his elbow. Nokolo also skipped a turn in the rotation in late March with a hamstring strain, and now will be out until at least mid-August.

Round 12

.....Keleri 1-4 Akashemo - 8-10, 7-10, 4-5, 5-6, 8-6
.....Tsapna 1-4 Westline - 1-5, 4-3, 1-2, 2-3, 2-3
....Sitache 1-4 Kupore - 7-12, 0-4, 1-6, 10-5, 4-6
...National 2-3 Sh.Eagles - 6-2, 12-6, 2-3, 5-13, 3-8
Mighty Oaks 4-1 Hokrof - 9-1, 5-6, 9-4, 12-2, 2-1
.....Semyof 3-2 Lutrul - 9-6(12), 7-2, 8-7(11), 2-8, 9-10
.......Meka 1-4 Amnanache - 6-12, 3-5(11), 10-8, 3-4, 6-11
..BK Kepmem 4-1 Cheshek - 7-4, 18-8, 3-5(11), 5-2, 10-4
......Nokir 4-1 Pasataki - 1-0, 8-3, 6-0, 4-9, 4-3
...Mithazni 2-3 Muni - 0-8, 0-7, 2-3(11), 12-5, 7-0


National 12, Shunna Eagles 6 and Akashemo United 10, Keleri 7: A bit of Elite League history today - for the first time in league history, two players hit for the cycle on the same day. National 1B Chorep Toyerno and Akashemo CF Ramrasha Liposeli both accomplished the feat here on May 8, 2024. Liposeli finished his fairly early, completing the cycle with a 7th-inning double, while Toyerno would not have had time to hit his home run if National had been at home, saving it for the top of the 9th. Liposeli also added a walk, marking a perfect day at the dish.

Hokrof 6, Mighty Oaks 5: Oaks 3B Netomue Kilutsa, who has already missed time to injury this year, will miss another 3-4 weeks with an abdominal strain. He has probably been the team's most important hitter this season out of the leadoff spot.

Standings..........W..L
+2 .Mighty Oaks.. 38 22
-- ......Kupore.. 37 23
+1 ....Westline.. 36 24
-3 ......Lutrul.. 35 25
-- ....P.Galaxy.. 34 26
+2 .......Nokir.. 34 26
-- ...Amnanache.. 33 27
-2 ........Meka.. 32 28
-- ......Keleri.. 31 29
+1 ......Semyof.. 31 29
+2 ....National.. 31 29
-2 ........Muni.. 31 29
+1 ......Kepmem.. 30 30
-2 ......Tsapna.. 28 32
+3 Akashemo Utd.. 26 34
+3 ...Sh.Eagles.. 26 34
-2 .....Sitache.. 26 34
-----------------------------
-2 .....Cheshek.. 24 35
-2 ....Mithazni.. 23 36
-- ......Hokrof.. 13 47


If I were watching along as a fan of one of these underachieving teams, like Keleri, Semyof, National, Kepmem, or Tsapna, I might be ready to call for my manager's job (even with Tsapna having a brand new manager). The top of the league is still very much up for grabs - it seems completely possible that this could be the first year in Elite League history that no team wins 120 games. Or maybe, Westline, or the Oaks, or the Galaxy, or someone else will go on a crazy hot streak. Lots still up in the air... except if you're a Hokrof fan. Oops.

Next week, not a ton of marquee intrigue. The marquee series might be, weirdly, Kupore visiting Nokir early in the week. The nationwide broadcast is the basement battle between Hokrof and Mithazni. At the weekend, I'll be looking at Mighty Oaks/Amnanache. The most intrigue is in play around the trade deadline, for sure. Full schedule:

Round 13:
Shunna Eagles vs. Mighty Oaks
Hokrof vs. Mithazni
Akashemo United vs. National
Lutrul vs. Keleri
Shunna Municipal vs. Sitache
Westline vs. Meka
Kupore vs. Nokir
Cheshek vs. Tsapna
Amnanache vs. Semyof
Pasataki Galaxy vs. BK Kepmem

Round 14:
Mithazni vs. Tsapna
Akashemo United vs. Kupore
BK Kepmem vs. Meka
Semyof vs. Shunna Municipal
Sitache vs. Westline
Nokir vs. Keleri
Mighty Oaks vs. Amnanache
National vs. Lutrul
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Cheshek
Shunna Eagles vs. Hokrof

[Ruwisc]

2024 Trade Deadline

For all the pooh-poohing I've done of the trade deadline, this one was about the same. The period of May 1-15 saw only 7 trades in total involving Elite League teams, 6 of which were consequential enough to write about. A couple of teams were particularly busy, though.

• May 5: In what is effectively a salary dump, the Shunna Eagles trade RF Okekola Narupu to Semyof alongside a swap of minor prospects. The Eagles must be confident that their lineup will still be good enough to avoid relegation - giving up one of their starting outfielders, a pending free agent anyway, will save them about $3 million. For Semyof, it's clearly time to move on from the 42-year-old Ilye Lilo, so this makes sense.

• May 11: Westline sends SP Chapeo Mematsa, who they acquired at the deadline from Sitache last year, to 5th-tier Fampalo United for reliever Tilepu Wofsa. Mematsa had not been needed this year, so I suppose the thinking is to get something more useful out of him. Wofsa is a 15-year vet who has a little bit of previous EL experience, doing well for Lutrul in 2020.

• May 11: Semyof isn't done adding outfielders, bringing in Keneche Kimele from 5th-tier Mipokefre (Shunna). Kimele should be a good asset, locked in until 2029 at a salary befitting someone on a tier-5 team, and Semyof only parted with two low-level prospects.

• May 13: The Eagles continue to unload salary, sending 3B Silike Ruea to 4th-tier Shusnum (Miloyu, TA). Addition by subtraction, as Ruea had had an OPS+ of just 56. The Eagles retained enough of the contract to not really save money on this deal, but the two players they got back might be usable.

• May 14: An interesting challenge trade: Muni deal from a position of strength, sending SP Nawin Posheni to Akashemo United for RF Shashacheta Kukoteache & 1B Nemawa Ilare. I like this in theory for Muni, although they have a few starting pitchers out injured right now.

• May 15: Muni sheds a little salary on deadline day, sending RP Fawayi Yami to Shepero (Southern Premier League) in exchange for two catchers, Faraho Mpetu & Wotsapayi Ponarf. Mpetu is a defensive whiz while Ponarf will go into the pinch-hitting rotation.

That'll do it for the deadline - Westline made one more trade but that was even more unimportant than the one I wrote about.