[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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The 1986 Australasia League race was incredibly tight with six of the eight teams having a real shot at the crown in the final weeks. Perth prevailed in the end at 87-75, their first AL pennant since 1979. Brisbane and Melbourne were both only one game back. Defending champ Christchurch was four behind with Adelaide five back and Sydney six back.

Gold Coast LF Neville Ryan became a three time Australasia League MVP, even though his Kangaroos finished seventh. The 30-year old Australian did his best though, leading in triples (24), home runs (49), RBI (117), total bases (381), slugging (.651), OPS (.988), wRC+ (181), and WAR (9.3). Adelaide’s Tarzan Rao became the first six-time winner of the Pitcher of the Year and earned his third Triple Crown with a 22-14 record, 1.97 ERA, and 464 strikeouts. The 33-year old from Vanuatu was the WARlord (14.4) for the ninth straight season and strikeout leader (464) for the seventh. He also led in innings (337.2), K/BB (16.0), quality starts (35), complete games (26), and FIP- (48).



After taking second place last year, Honolulu found itself on top of the Pacific League for the fifth time in six years. The Honu finished 95-67, edging defending OBA champ Port Moresby by one (94-68) and Guam by two (93-69). Honolulu needed historic pitching to prevail, as their 2.12 team ERA and 352 earned runs allowed were both the second-best seasons in PL history behind only Tahiti’s 1974 effort.

Leading the Honu pitching staff was Pitcher of the Year Randol Smith. The 29-year old Solomon Islander was the WARlord (9.2), posting a 1.97 ERA and 21-12 record over 301.2 innings with 334 strikeouts. Smith also won his fourth Gold Glove and threw a 14-strikeout, one walk no hitter against Guam on April 26. Also playing a big role for Honolulu was second year 1B Vavao Brighouse, who had a breakout season to win Pacific League MVP. The 6’8’’, 23-year old Samoan lefty became the new OBA single-season home run king with 60 dingers, breaking Sione Hala’s record of 59 from 1968. Brighouse also led in RBI (116), total bases (351), slugging (.635), OPS (.949), and wRC+ (218); the first great season in what would become an impressive slugging career.

Brighouse carried his power into the 27^th Oceania Championship as Honolulu reestablished their dynasty and defeated Perth 4-2. As finals MVP, Brighouse had 7 home runs, 9 hits, 8 runs, and 9 RBI over 6 starts. Four of those home runs came in one game, making him second-ever OBA player with a 4 HR game and the only one as of 2037 to do it in the postseason. The 7 homers, 1.409 slugging and 1.825 OPS are still OBA postseason records as of 2037. The Honu became the first team in OBA history to win four rings in five years.





Other notes: Nigel Chalmers became the first OBA pitcher to 300 career wins. He would pitch one more season and retire with 313. He’d lose the #1 spot by the end of the 1980s to Tarzan Rao, but still sits third best as of 2037. Rao became the fourth pitcher to 4500 career strikeouts. SP Durant Lindly won his ninth Gold Glove, a record for the position. 3B Jarrod Stacy won his eighth.