Mormon Baseball

In the first playoff game for the Omaha Storm Chasers, Mitch Maier showed that a walk can be very powerful. Maier led the team with three free trips to first and scored twice as a result, as the Storm Chasers beat the Albuquerque Isotopes 8-4. Maier also struck out and flied out in the game.

Meanwhile, in the other PCL playoff game, Stephen Parker watched from the bench as his Sacramento River Cats lost to the Reno Aces 3-1.

Elsewhere in the minors, the final game of the Pioneer League season is a must win for Jeff Gelilach and the Billings Mustangs—a loss leaves them out of post-season play. Several other Mormons in the minors saw their opponents firm up, and Bryan Harper did his part in helping his Auburn Doubledays to clinch a playoff birth, giving up 2 hits in an inning of play (however, a run scored on a teammate’s error).

Here’s a run-down of the remaining Mormons in the minors who are on teams that will play in the league championships:

AAA teams:

Each of the two AAA leagues have league conference playoffs, championship series, and then the champions of each league then meet in a single game AAA championship, scheduled for September 18th in Durham, North Carolina.

• Mitch Maier, Omaha Storm Chasers, Pacific Coast League, American Northern Conference Champions
  * Storm Chasers play a 5-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes Sept. 5-9
  * If they win, the League championship is a 3-game series played Sept. 14-16.
• Stephen Parker, Sacramento River Cats, Pacific Coast League, Pacific Southern Conference Champions
  * River Cats play a 5-game series against the Reno Aces Sept. 5-9
  * If they win, they play in the 3-game League championship series Sept. 14-16.

A+ teams:

Each of the two divisions in the California League play division series between the winners of each half of the season to determine the division champions. The division champions then face each other in a championship series.

• Blaine Howell, Bakersfield Blaze, California League, Northern Division 1st half winner
  * Bakersfield Blaze next play a 5-game series Sept. 8-12 against the winner of a playoff between the Modesto Nuts and the San Jose Giants.

A teams:

Northwest League

Each of the two divisions in the Northwest League play division series between the winners of each half of the season to determine the division champions. The division champions then face each other in a championship series.

• Taylor Cole, Vancouver Canadians, Northwest League, West Division 2nd half winner
  * Vancouver Canadians play a 3-game championship series against the East Division champion, the Boise Hawks, Sept. 6, 8-9.

New York-Penn League

The winners of each of the 3 divisions in the league play a two-round championship to determine the league champion. First the division leader with the best record plays a wildcard team (best record among teams who aren’t division leaders) while the other two division leaders play each others. The winners of these two series then face each other in a championship.

• Bryan Harper, Auburn Doubledays, New York-Penn League, won the Pinckney division
  * The Doubledays will play the Tri-City Valleycats in a 3-game series Sept. 7-9
  * If Doubledays then win that series, they play in the League Championship Series Sept. 11-13

Rookie teams

The Pioneer league finishes play on September 6th, and the winners of the 2nd half have yet to be determined.
The winners of the first half play the winner of the second half in each division to determine the division champion. The division champions then meet in a league championship.

• Derek Cone, Ogden Raptors, Pioneer League, South Division 1st half leader and current 2nd half leader
  * Raptors will play the Grand Junction Rockies in a 3-game series Sept. 7-9.
  * If thy win, the Raptors will then play the North Division Champions in a 3-game series Sept. 11, 13 & 14
• Jeff Gelalich, Billings Mustangs, Pioneer League, North Division 2nd half leaders
  * If the Mustangs tie for the division lead, they will play the Great Falls Voyagers in a 3-game series Sept. 7-9.
  * If the Mustangs then win that series, they will play the South Division champions in a 3-game series Sept. 11, 13 & 14

I will try to keep us all up-to-date with the status of these Mormon minor leaguers over the next couple weeks. Enjoy the minor league post season!