[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Ahmedabad’s Indian League again continued as the seven-time defending league champs broke their own wins record. The Animals finished 125-37 in 2001, topping their own 124-38 mark from 1995. That is one win shy of the SAB and world record of 126-36 by Ho Chi Minh City in 1993. Ahmedabad also extended its playoff streak to 17 seasons and its West Division title streak to 15.

Second in the division was 90-72 Mumbai, which earned them the wild card and their first-ever playoff berth. The Meteors entered the season as the only team in South Asia Baseball without at least one playoff appearance through SAB’s first 21 years. Jaipur cruised to the Central Division title at 97-65, getting their fifth playoff berth in six years. Kolkata, who won 95 games last year, fell off to 78-84. In a weak West Division, Visakhapatnam took it at 83-79, edging Chennai by one game. The Volts secured a fourth consecutive division title.

Indian League MVP was Jaipur 2B David Rusli in a record-setting campaign. The 28-year old became the second-ever SAB hitter to bat above .400 with his .4055 falling barely behind Arnav Sumedh’s .4057 from 1996. Rusli also stole 143 bases, which remains SAB’s all-time record as of 2037. At the time, it was the second most in any world league only behind Beisbol Sudamerica’s Pascal Garcia getting 152 in 1996. The 28-year old Thai switch hitter was only caught stealing 28 times, making for an truly all-time baserunning effort. On top of all that, he led the IL in runs (135), hits (234), OBP (.463), OPS (1.042), wRC+ (239), and WAR (13.3). Rusli’s effort was the fifth-most WAR by a SAB position player to that pint, especially remarkable with only 10 home runs (but 52 doubles).

Ahmedabad’s Gandhalata Green won Pitcher of the Year. The 30-year old got it despite only throwing 195 innings, winning amidst a quiet field. He did post a league-best 1.75 ERA and 0.86 WHIP to his credit. Green had a 16-3 record, 166 strikeouts, and 3.2 WAR. Green also tossed SAB’s sixth-ever perfect game on May 21, striking out eight against Hyderabad. Also of note, his Animals teammate Saroth Bora won his third Reliever of the Year. The 29-year old Cambodian tied SAB’s single-season saves record with 52, adding a 1.94 ERA over 97.2 innings, 178 strikeouts, and 3.8 WAR.

Mumbai took their divisional foe Ahmedabad to the brink in the first round of the playoffs, but the Animals escaped in five games. This meant for the 16^th consecutive season, Ahmedabad would play in the Indian League Championship Series. For the fourth time in six years, they would be facing Jaipur in the ILCS, as the Jokers edged Visakhapatnam 3-2. Ahmedabad won the ILCS 4-2 for an eighth consecutive pennant. They became the first team in any world league to win eight subleague titles in a row. The Animals became only the second team in world history to win 125+ games and also get to their championship, joining WAB’s Kano from the prior year. The other two teams to win that many lost in the first round (Ho Chi Minh City in 1993 & EBF’s Madrid in 1951).



Speaking of the Hedgehogs, the reigning SAB champs and winners of four straight Southeast Asia League titles continued their usual dominance. Ho Chi Minh City had SEAL’s best record at 115-47, rolling to a 13^th consecutive South Division title and 15^th straight playoff berth.

In the North Division, Yangon was first at 103-59, extending their own nice playoff streak to seven years. Hanoi was second at 92-70, easily getting the first wild card. The Hounds advanced for the sixth time in nine years. The second wild card spot was a mess that saw Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Kathmandu all tied at 82-80. SAB doesn’t use tiebreaking games and the formula favored the Bobcats. Bangkok got its fifth wild card in eight years.

Southeast Asia League MVP was Hanoi DH Htay Lay. The 25-year old Burmese lefty led in hits (187), RBI (141), total bases (407), slugging (.652), and wRC+ (179). Lay added 8.0 WAR, 58 home runs, and a .300 average. Although Vientiane had the worst record in the league, their ace Van Minh An won Pitcher of the Year. The 26-year old Vietnamese lefty was the WARlord (8.6) and leader in FIP- (59). An added a 15-11 record over 243.1 innings, 2.44 ERA, and 302 strikeouts.

The wild cards were quickly dispatched in the first round with Ho Chi Minh City sweeping Bangkok and Yangon sweeping Hanoi. This was the eighth successive Southeast Asia League Championship Series for the Hedgehogs. The Green Dragons hadn’t been that far since 1996 despite their playoff streak. Yangon pulled off the upset and denied the HCMC five-peat, winning the series 4-2. This was the fifth pennant for the Green Dragons (1980, 82, 83, 96, 01).



In the 22^nd South Asia Championship, all seven games were needed for the first time since 1995. Ahmedabad was denied becoming the first-ever champ in any world league with 125 wins or more, as Yangon pulled off the upset for its first-ever SAB title. The Animals were runner-up in back-to-back seasons. Leading Yangon was LF J.V. Munshi, who won finals MVP. The 27-year old had 27 hits, 16 runs, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 8 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 16 playoff starts.



Other notes: Reliever of the Year Saroth Bora had an all-time great postseason in defeat for Ahmedabad, posting 19.2 scoreless innings with six saves and 37 strikeouts. Van Loi Phung became the sixth to reach 500 career home runs and won his ninth Silver Slugger in center field. 3B Manju Abbas won his 12^th Gold Glove and won his eighth Silver Slugger. 2B Tirtha Upadhyaya won his seventh Silver Slugger.