Mormon Baseball

Playoff games tend to have clutch moments. In a 3-game series every game is a clutch situation. And even up a game, the Hagerstown Suns must have felt it in a clutch when the 9th inning of the second ended in a tie. And then in the 11th, after Justin Thomas put on two base runners and got just one out, they called up Bryan Harper in the clutch situation.

Unfortunately, Harper couldn’t stop the West Virginia Power from scoring. He gave up a double to Josh Bell, which scored the two runners left on base by Thomas, and then a single that scored Bell, before inducing a strike out that ended the inning. But the damage done was too much for the Suns to make up, and the Power tied the series at 1 game all. The Suns and Power play the deciding game tonight.

Did not play: Mitch Maier (DL); Mitch Talbot (DL); Clayton Mortensen (P – pitched yesterday, Thursday, 9/5); Nik Turley (P – may start Tuesday, 9/10)

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 17th in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

International League

• Mitch Maier, Pawtucket Red Sox, International League, North Conference Champions (on disabled list — did not play so far)
  * The Red Sox lead the Rochester Red Wings 2-1 in a 5-game series played Sept. 4-8
  * If they win, the Red Sox playin in the League championship, a 5-game series held Sept. 10-14.

Pacific Coast League

• Clayton Mortensen, Omaha Storm Chasers, Pacific Coast League, Amerian Northern Conference Champions
  * The Storm Chasers defeated the Oklahoma City RedHawks 3-0 in a 5-game series played Sept. 4-8
  * They play in the 5-game League championship series Sept. 10-15 against either the Las Vegas 51s or the Salt Lake Bees.
• Mitch Talbot, Las Vegas 51s, Pacific Coast League, Pacific Southern Conference Champions (on disabled list — did not pitch so far)
  * The 51s trail the Salt Lake Bees 1-2 in a 5-game series played Sept. 4-8
  * If they win, they play in the 5-game League championship series Sept. 10-15.

AA teams:

The top two teams in each of the two divisions in the Eastern League play each other in a 5-game series to determine the division champions. The division champions then face each other in a championship series.

• Nik Turley, Trenton Thunder, Eastern League, Eastern Division 2nd place team
  * Trenton Thunder beat the Binghamton Mets 3-0 in a 5-game series Sept. 4-8.
  * They play in the 5-game League championship series Sept. 10-14, facing either the Harrisburg Senators or the Erie Seawolves.

A+ teams:

Each of the two divisions in the Florida State 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, Dunedin Blue Jays, Florida State League, North Division 1st half winner
  * Dunedin Blue Jays were eliminated in a 2-game series Sept. 3-4 by the Daytona Cubs. Cole did not pitch in either game.

A teams:

Midwest League

The first and second place teams from each half of the season from each of the two divisions in the Midwest League qualify for the playoffs. The winner of each half season plays the second place team from the other half season to determine who plays in a division series that determines the division champions. The division champions then face each other in a championship series.

• Marcus Littlewood, Clinton LumberKings, Midwest League, Western Divison 2nd half 2nd place team
  * The LumberKings were eliminated by the Beloit Snappers 0-2 in a 3-game series September 4-6

South Atlantic League

Each of the two divisions in the South Atlantic 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.

• Bryan Harper, Hagerstown Suns, South Atlantic League, first half winners, Northern Division
  * Suns are tied 1-1 with the West Virginia Power in a 3-game series Sept. 4-7.
  * If the Suns win, they play in the 5-game League Championship Series Sept. 9-14

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!