Brooklyn Cyclones Open Wild Season Finale at Coney Island

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

SHOWDOWN

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

CONEY ISLAND

The schedule makers can pat themselves on the back for this one.  In one of the most gripping division races I can recall, all four McNamara Division teams have at least forty victories.  The playoff fates of them all lay in the balance as we enter the regular season's weekend finale.  Hudson Valley hosts Aberdeen.  Brooklyn plays a home and home series against Staten Island with games one and three at Coney Island.  One of these teams will emerge as division champs; one will enter the post-season as the wild card; the other two will pack up and embark on their respective off-seasons.

McNAMARA DIVISION

• 1) Aberdeen             41-31  *
• 2) Hudson Valley     41-31  *
• 3) Brooklyn             40-32  1 GB
• 4) Staten Island       40-33  1.5 GB

WILD CARD

• 1) Aberdeen          *
• 2) Husdon Valley  *
• 3) Brooklyn           1 GB
• 4) Staten Island     1.5 GB

The Cyclones do themselves no favors by dropping two straight against the Ironbirds at Aberdeen.  Leading Friday's game 4-3 through eight innings they surrender two runs in the bottom of the ninth.  Therefore instead of entering today's action tied for first with Hudson Valley the Cyclones relinquish to the field any self determining autonomy.

Hence their dilemma ...

Best case scenario: Hudson Valley or Aberdeen sweeps the other, and the Cyclones sweep the Yankees.  Anything less and the Cyclones are in a real pickle.  In turn Staten Island's only recourse is to sweep the Cyclones.

New York Penn League