Recap
Game 1: Hit Squad 6 – Ones 1
Game 2: Hit Squad 6 – Ones 4
Game 3: Ones 22 – Hit Squad 12
Game 4: Hit Squad 9 – Ones 5
The NL finals is a matchup between the #2 and #4 teams in the division. Two teams with very different playing styles, history, and 2 very different seasons. Hit Squad had a very consistent season in which they almost had the best overall season, minus a couple games which they could seal to get the #1 seed. They’re an older team that always finds a way to get the job done and have veterans, who arent the big names but know how to play the game like the Solymons, Wahids, Yaqub, Ali, Hakim and others. On the other end of the matchup we have a team who definitely underperformed with a below .500 record, though on paper seem stacked with the likes of MVP candidate, Naeem, SASL’s Mo Vaughn in Amby, heavy hitter Isidiro (Jr.), Sijo and the the rest.
This team started the season very slow and many counted them out but during the second half of the season they went on a tear and was able to slide into the playoffs and have been pulling the ooh’s and aahs since. When looking at their season series, we can see the Hit Squad owned them, but boy the playoffs have been a different series as the Ones have handed it to the NL #1 team while the Hitsquad are taking care of business as usual. Lets take an inside look at their matchups.
Catcher:
Joel Enai (HS) vs Sohi Ashraf (Ones)
Joel is having a pretty good season for someone that came on this team later in the year. HS was struggling big time with attendance and needed someone with some skills and it seemed he was the perfect candidate for it. Though he bats at the bottom of the lineup he is someone with a lot of pop and can go the yard. Overall a good season batting just above .500 with 22 RBI, seems that he brought his experience form the savages and is ready to play in a double header finals.
Sohi is also having a pretty good year and is known as one of the more skilled catchers in the league, as he’s made many tags at home. On offense he has hit pretty well, batting .540, though he didn’t stand out in any of the other categories, he knows the game well and always finds a way to get a hit when needed.
Advantage: Hit Squad due to Joel’s pop and experience.
Pitcher:
Wahid Omarzai (HS) vs Omar Hernandez(Ones)
When opponents hear Wahid’s name (AKA 10 pith man) they automatically get a pinch of fear in their hearts as he is known to be a top 3 pitcher in SASL history, with over a decade of experience. However, his pitching isn’t the only thing to talk about as he had a very solid offensive year. He batted over .550, 35 RBI and had a high SLG %. He’s hit some bombs this year and seems to be the one carrying this team, though not spoken about as much. We expect him to rock this finals.
Omar, not known as a pitcher but rather an all-star outfielder proving how valuable he is to the team by filling in the big shoes of Mr. Nader. Not only can this guy throw some tricky pitches but he’s cat like on the mound and vaccumes any ball that comes near him. When talking offense, he is probably one of the best hitters in the NL. Batting above .600, someone who can pretty much hit wherever he wants as defenses cant even shift on him, has pop, and is like a cheetah on the bases. The one cern, especially facing a veteran team like HS, is his walks, and we believe that will be the catalyst this year.
Advantage: Hit Squad, who would you choose? A man with 10 options or a man with 4?
1st Base:
Tim Alicia (HS) vs Amby Cruceta (Ones)
Tim has been like the Tim of all these years as he’s kept his average in the 500s and always seems to get a timley hit except for when he tries to go the yard and gets a deep popout, depend who ask. But he is one of the more skilled first basemen in the league. He has the height, got the stretch, and moves very swiftly on both offense and defense. We expcect him to have a very good series.
When you think of the Ones you automatically picture a lefty bomb from Amby or a nice stretch catch on a bath throw. If the Ones were above 500 Amby would definitely be an automatic MVP and many are shocked that he already isn’t. Maybe one of the deepest hitters this league has ever seen and knows how put up a nice humble brag. In a big field like Cantiague A, it will be very interesting to see how Amby hits and how HS plays him. This is the game for him to prove the haters wrong and make the league feel like they made a mistake in their candidates. Expect him to have some big hits.
Advantage: Ones easily
2nd Base:
Hakim Najimi (HS) vs Sijo Jacob (Ones)
The next matchup features two well respected vets in Hakim and Sijo. Both players are known for their hitting and defense but Hakim does have the more respected resume. However this season Hakim hasn’t played enough and isn’t putting up the numbers we’re use to, while Sijo is putting up his usual solid numbers and lots of timely hitting. Both batted a little over 500, while Sijo killed it in the RBI category. But being that this is the finals, we expect Hakim to bring out his retro self and kill it this series offensively as he already has the advantage defensively.
Advantage: Hit Squad
3rd Base:
Ali Najimi (HS) vs Isidiro Diaz Jr. (Ones)
Ali is having his usual year and continues to leave defenses questioning what to do. Known for being able to place the ball and hit line drives, he has been one of the key members of this team and go as far as he takes them. His defense will be the key to this game and we expect him to shine.
Junior is one of the most feared hitters in the league, yet is able to stay under the radar. He can hit to all fields with power and killed it this year batting .570 with 44 RBI, 9 HR, over 1 SLG %, and actually hit more extra base hits than singles. His defense can be shaky at times but he makes the right play most of the time. Given HS history and brains, we expect them to give Jr. trouble.
Advantage: Ones, though Ali is solid, Jr. is having one hell of a year.
SS:
Frank Perez (HS) vs Naeem Bhalli (Ones)
If this was a bball game everyone would match these two up and compare, but even though we’re talking softball, we can do the same because of how good both of these guys are. Both are top notch MVP candidates with gold gloves, big bats, cheetah like speed, and can hold their own against anyone. Naeem batting a whopping .750 with 60 RBI!, 8 HR while Frank batted a whopping .800, 58 RBI, 12 HR! I mean hard to choose between the two and we’re honestly not sure who has the advantage, as they each of both beat in some category. It’s fair to say both will have great series and the one that does better will lead his team to the coveted trophy, and hopefully a finals and season MVP as well.
Advantage: We’ll let their games decide and it’s too hard to choose.
LF:
Yaqub Najimi (HS) vs Binu Nair (Ones)
Yaqub the youngest Najimi and youngest to ever win a SASL chip has had a pretty good year in batting close to 600 and a ton of singles. He’s a solid base running and makes some really nice plays in the OF. We don’t expect him to have a big series in the big stage but expect him to get some timely hits.
Binu is having an usual Binu year with his mid .500s average and 17 RBI. His is a strong veteran who knows the game well and has had a few assist this year to get runners out. His play will be the key to HS taking the series and we expect him to bring it in the big stage with all his experience and IQ.
Advantage: Hit Squad, wisdom beats youth in most things in life.
LCF:
Obaid Farooque (HS) vs Zabi Khosdal (Ones)
Not quite the talker or showboat type of personality but he’s a shoe in for ROY. Hes got the arm, hes got the ball read and skills, hes got the speed and offensively his numbers read: .723 avg and 22 RBI. One of the most underrated players in the league and one of the best line drive swings in both the NL/AL. don’t surprised if he comes out with the finals MVP.
We don’t know too much about Zabi other than him being able to make almost every play that’s anywhere near him. Offensively he hasn’t had a solid year but defensively he is the last guy you want to hit it to.
Advantage: Hit Squad. Rookie phenom.
RCF:
Solyman Najimi (HS) vs Asad Haque (Ones)
Mr. Solyman though known to say some weird and controversial things, is also known as one of the smartest and most winning players in this leagues history. No matter what you do he will find a way to get on base and burn you. He’s a consistent .500+ hitter and plays his position well nothing flashy. You know he’s going to be ready for the playoffs.
Though Asad hit under .500 and only 15 RBI, we know he has potential to a lot more and will, moving forward. His range in the outfield is almost second to none and he shows very high IQ in the plays he’s made. He expect him to be the x-factor for the Ones and will have a good series.
Advantage: Even, tough to choose but Sol’s experience is one of the deepest in the leagues history.
RF:
Ronak Jain/Ammad Sheikh (HS) vs Pops Alam (Ones)
Pops is the ideal top of lineup batter, had 18 walks! Almost as many as his rbis, always goes for the right hit (single) and never tries to do too much, while having a pretty solid glove. Though he takes a lot of risks on defense, which does lead to extra bases, when he gets it right (often) he does big things and his defense and getting on base abilities will be big in this series.
Ronak aka has been the most valuable mid-season pickup of anyone this year, bringing his championship experience from the savages, while Ammad just sticks to doing whats right on both offense and defense. Both of these players are high IQ and ammad brings lots of valuable championship experience in which he will know which shifts to do. Expect both to be key to their team’s success.
Advantage: Ones because of Pops relentlessness
Key for Victory
Walks: Whoever walks less will win
Fly outs: the team that puts in the ground more will force errors or slow plays to happen
Long ball: both teams hit a lot of singles, but will anyone go the yard?
Prediction:
This will be a tough and grueling 3 game series and we believe Hit Squad will take away the long ball from Amby, Junior, and Naeem to get the victories.
G1: Ones 6 Hitsquad 4
G2: Hitsquad 5 Ones 4
G3: Hitsquad 8 Ones 5
