| # | LEAGUE | YEAR | RA | GP |
| 1 |  |
2017 | 4 | 8 |
| 2 |  |
2017 | 11 | 6 |
| 2 |  |
2016 | 11 | 5 |
| 4 |  |
2016 | 12 | 11 |
| 4 | |
2015 | 12 | 9 |
| 4 |  |
2015 | 12 | 5 |
| 7 | |
2016 | 13 | 8 |
| 8 | |
2014 | 14 | 9 |
| 9 |  |
2014 | 15 | 10 |
| 9 |  |
2017 | 15 | 7 |
| 11 | |
2016 | 17 | 8 |
| 11 |  |
2015 | 17 | 7 |
| 13 |  |
2016 | 18 | 6 |
| 14 | |
2017 | 19 | 10 |
| 14 | |
2014 | 19 | 8 |
| 16 | |
2013 | 21 | 7 |
| 17 |  |
2016 | 22 | 7 |
| 17 |  |
2017 | 22 | 5 |
| 19 | |
2015 | 23 | 7 |
| 19 |  |
2017 | 23 | 7 |
| 19 |  |
2017 | 23 | 6 |
Our guys did something impressive last year: four runs allowed in the entire tournament. With a growing penchant for more analytical statistics people occasionally like to remind me that simple numbers can carry more impact. Maybe that could be the case here, too. See for yourself. The list at left runs up the fewest runs allowed by a team during a single tournament; regionals excluded, of course, because they shouldn't exist. Note: To see the top ten ERA's posted by teams in a single tournament you can jump down to the bottom of the post.
4 RA is impressive. That's an understatement. It's the only time a team has given up a single digit number. It's also the only time a team has given up one run or less per game; although, SWBL came very close to that mark in 2016. The four runs were given up in two games: one versus Farkas in the first game of the double elimination tournament against GBL, and three against Kujawa in the winners bracket champtionship facing HFWB. Zeroes were hung in the other six games. While pool play results largely go overlooked, the three-game shut out in those games pitched by Chandler Phillips, Sam Hatt, and Scott Kujawa is important looking toward 2018. Kujawa slides into the ace role with the departure of Farkas. Phillips likely will get more innings, especially in volatile games. Hatt is further down the depth chart, but he's a valuable arm to have in the pen, if necessary. Speaking of the bullpen, Travis Strojny should be called on to throw more than bullpen sessions this time around. And lastly, Craig Skinner rejoins the national team for the first time since 2013, looking for a redemption arc. Sure, there is no Farkas, and I doubt any team ever goes as low as 4 RA again (shout out to the wind god), but the Dads are still bringing some talented arms to throw out there.
Altogether, WSEM cracks the top twenty - in fact, the top ten - in runs allowed four times. Other repeat offenders: SWBL makes the list three times; OCWA, TBW, and GBL each appear twice. Probably shouldn't be surprised to see SWBL on the list so often given their routine success, but I am a little since we tend to focus all the attention on their hitting. I am very surprised, however, that TBW never cracks the top ten. OCWA also seems underrepresented in the list; turns out they tend to play a lot of games, and #spoileralert they come off a lot better when looking at ERA.
One last observation: the pitching numbers in 2012-2013 were bad. BAD. Awful really. Only two teams during those two years had a sub-4.00 ERA: WSEM in 2012 had a 3.92, and TBW in 2013 posted a 3.16. And now, since we've mentioned ERA… quickly ignore those bad, early outings; here are the top ERA's posted by teams in a single tournament:
| 1. | WSEM | (2017) | — | 0.38 ERA |
| 2. | SWBL | (2016) | — | 1.24 ERA |
| 3. | WSEM | (2015) | — | 1.43 ERA |
| 4. | OCWA | (2014) | — | 1.55 ERA |
| 5. | WSEM | (2014) | — | 1.64 ERA |
| 6. | WSEM | (2016) | — | 1.66 ERA |
| 7. | SWBL | (2017) | — | 1.76 ERA |
| 8. | WILL | (2017) | — | 1.83 ERA* |
| 9. | KWL | (2015) | — | 2.22 ERA |
| 10. | LWA | (2017) | — | 2.33 ERA |
| 10. | OCWA | (2016) | — | 2.33 ERA |
| 10. | OCWA | (2015) | — | 2.33 ERA |
* WILL stats incomplete on NWLA website. ERA estimated with 6 IP for each GP. |
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Nevermind, I take it back. That 0.38 ERA alone on an island is much more impressive than a single digit.
