Mormon Baseball

With the end of the regular minor league season yesterday (except for the Pioneer League, which ends on Saturday, September 8th), the Mormons in the minors can look forward to further games in only two ways: they might get called up to the majors with the expanded 40-man roster that started September 1st, or they might play in any of the minor league championship games that have even begun for some teams.

Here’s a run-down of the seven 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 17th in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

International League

• Mitch Maier, Pawtucket Red Sox, International League, North Conference Champions (on disabled list — may not play)
  * Red Sox play a 5-game series against the Rochester Red Wings Sept. 4-8
  * If they win, the League championship is a 5-game series played Sept. 10-14.

Pacific Coast League

• Clayton Mortensen, Omaha Storm Chasers, Pacific Coast League, Amerian Northern Conference Champions
  * Storm Chasers play a 5-game series against the Oklahoma City RedHawks 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 — may not play)
  * 51s play a 5-game series against the Salt Lake Bees 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 play a 5-game series Sept. 4-8 against the Binghamton Mets.
  * 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 play a 2-game series Sept. 3-4 against the Daytona Cubs.
  * If they win, they play in the 5-game League championship series Sept. 5-9.

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 play a 3-game series against the Beloit Snappers September 4-6
  * If the LumberKings win, they will play a 3-game division series.
  * If the LumberKings win the division series, they will play a 5-game championship series against the Eastern Division champion.

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 play a 3-game series Sept. 5-7 against the West Virginia Power.
  * 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!