Merrimack – The All-Star Baseball League regular season came to a close Tuesday night as the Merrimack Owls won 2 of 3 games from the division winning McCall Mudhens but failed to qualify for the playoffs. Winning the first 2 games, the Owls faced a win-or-go-home scenario all night after trailing the Westport Fleas in the standings.
“It was a tough situation to be in,” Owls manager Ryne Sandberg said during post-game comments. “That Mudhens team has been flattening everyone all season long, so to come out here and punch them in the nose the first couple of games made me really happy for our guys… Our season did not turn out the way we wanted it to, but tonight these guys showed some grit and they should walk away feeling proud.”
Jumping out to an early lead in game 3, the Mudhens finally found an answer to Owls pitching when it mattered most. With the usual cast of Yost, Larkin and Mantle contributing big hits, the back of the Hens’ lineup showed up for the first time in the series with clutch hitting from Gabby Hartnett, Frankie Frisch and Billy Williams.
Feas Playoff Boud
Jubilation sprang form small pubs, backyard viewing parties and local bistros as the Westport Fleas
qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with the Mudhens win over the Owls. Fish fans for one night only, words like “hope” and “believe” are popping up on Fleas t-shirts across the Westport metro area.
“ARE YOU KIDDING! Of course we can beat the ‘Mud-fish’!,” local resident Aaron Householder said while holding a beer in front of a spontaneous celebration in front of city hall. “McRae WILL WIN THE DAY!!!.”
Joplin Lands #1 Draft Pick
Finishing the season with a 9-15 record and scoring the least amount of runs, The Joplin Crawdads have secured the #1 draft pick in next seasons draft. A small-market franchise with several key-players such as Todd Helton and Jackie Robinson locked in for the next few seasons, the Crawdads look to add several starters in the draft.
Playoffs Set
With the conclusion of the regular season, the playoff picture is now crystal clear. In the National League, the division-winning McCall Mudhens will face the Westport Fleas and in the American League, the division-winning Fogelberg Falcons will face the Boggstown Boilers.
Both series will be a best of 7 and the winners will face-off in a best of 7 series for the championship.
|
All-Star Baseball League: NLCS |
||
McCall Mudhens |
VS. |
Westport Fleas |
|
All-Star Baseball League: ALCS |
||
Fogelberg Falcons |
VS. |
Boggstown Boilers |
Final Records
=========== AL ===============
Home vs away
FF vs BB x4 (FF 4, BB 0)
BB vs FF x2 (FF 2, BB 0)
JC vs FF x3 (JC 0, FF 3)
FF vs JC x3 (FF 1, JC 2)
BB vs JC x3 (BB 2, JC 1)
JC vs BB x3 (JC 1, BB 2)
—- ALL-STAR BREAK —-
BB vs FF x4 (BB 2, FF 2)
FF vs BB x2 (FF 2, BB 0)
FF vs JC x3 (FF 2, JC 1)
JC vs FF x3 (JC 2, FF 1)
JC vs BB x3 (JC 1, BB 2)
BB vs JC x3 (BB 2, JC 1)
==Final Records==
* Falcons: 17-7
* Boilers: 10-14
Crawdads: 9-15
=========== NL ===============
Home vs away
WF vs MO x4 (WF 1, MO 3)
MO vs WF x2 (WF 2, MO 0)
MM vs WF x3 (MM 2, WF 1)
WF vs MM x3 (WF 0, MM 3)
MO vs MM x3 (MO 1, MM 2)
MM vs MO x3 (MM 2, MO 1)
—- ALL-STAR BREAK —-
MO vs WF x4 (MO 1, WF 3)
WF vs MO x2 (WF 1, MO 1)
WF vs MM x3 (WF 0, MM 3)
MM vs WF x3 (MM 2, WF 1)
MM vs MO x3 (MM 3, MO 0)
MO vs MM x3 (MO 2, MM 1)
==Final Records==
* Mudhens: 18-6
* Fleas: 9-15
Owls: 9-15
* Playoff Team
