Mormon Baseball

Clayton Mortensen, who pitched in the Red Sox bull pen earlier this year, started for the Omaha Storm Chasers in their second post-season game and earned the win, despite a bad 4th inning in which he gave up 4 runs and nearly lost the game. The Storm Chasers had only scored twice before the bottom of the fourth, and Mortensen then struggled, giving up a single, followed by a walk, followed by an rbi single and then a 3-run home run, all before he managed to pull it together and get grounders to finish off the side. For another inning he faced the loss, but in the top of the 6th Omaha scored another 5 runs and the bull-pen shut down the Oklahoma Red Wings to give Mortensen a win. Still, it was an ugly one, as Mortensen ended up with a 7.20 era and 1.40 WHIP. He gave up a total of 5 hits, two walks while striking out 4.

After yesterday’s extra-innings heroics, Marcus Littlewood played well again, going 1 for 3 (a double) with a walk, but the Clinton LumberKings lost the second game of their 3-game series and were eliminated from the playoffs. Littlewood ended up with a post-sesaon average of .500 (3 for 6) with 3 walks, no strike-outs and a solo home run. Not bad.

Did not play: Mitch Maier (DL); Mitch Talbot (DL); Nik Turley (P – may start Saturday, 9/7)

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 have tiedthe Rochester Red Wings 1-1 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 lead the Oklahoma City RedHawks 2-0 in a 5-game series played Sept. 4-8
  * If they win, they play in the 5-game League championship series Sept. 10-15.
• 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 0-2 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 lead the Binghamton Mets 2-0 in a 5-game series Sept. 4-8.
  * If they win, they play in the 5-game League championship series Sept. 10-14.

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 up 1-0 over 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!