The Inland Empire 66ers became improbable second-half champions of the South division tonight with their third straight road win against Lancaster. With the 9-5 victory, Inland Empire clinched at least a tie for the division title.
The South was a .500-fest in the second half, and the 66ers’ late surge was good enough to force no worse than a tie with Lake Elsinore, should the Storm win on Monday while IE loses. But, per California League playoff procedures, the fact that the possible tie atop the division is with the Storm, which is already assured a playoff spot via the “best overall record” qualification, there would be no tie-breaker. Inland Empire is in:
“An additional regular-season game to determine the Second-half Champion or No. 3 Seed will be played only if a playoff berth is at stake, and it will be played on the day after the regular season concludes. If the tying teams are already assured of a playoff spot (Lake Elsinore is), then a game will not be played and the seeding will be determined by the tiebreaking procedure.”
That last sentence, regarding the seeding, yields the following provisos:
“In the case of a two-way tie for a half champion or overall best record (No. 3 Seed), the home team for the playoff game will be determined using the following criteria:
- 1) Head-to-Head record
- 2) Winning percentage within the division
- 3) Winning percentage versus third-place club(s)
- 4) Winning percentage versus fourth-place club(s)
- 5) Winning percentage versus fifth-place club
- 6) Winning percentage versus other Division
- 7) Coin flip”
So, let’s see the slate of season finales on the holiday Monday and find out where the cards fall. Here’s what we have at this point:
NORTH DIVISION
Visalia (wildcard) and Stockton (2nd half champion) in the mini series.
Bakersfield (1st-half champion) plays the winner.
SOUTH DIVISION
Lake Elsinore (wildcard) and Inland Empire (2nd half champion) in the mini series.
Lancaster (1st half champion) plays the winner.
One more day of a full California League schedule and then, starting Wednesday…
IT’S PLAYOFF TIME!
