Valley League Season Winding Down| News

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Valley League Season Winding Down| News | Valley League Baseball

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Valley League Season Winding Down

HARRISONBURG, Va. (7/26/02) - With many of the teams only having three games left to play, the the playoff picture has become a little clearer.

In the Northern Division, New Market has already clinched a spot in the playoffs and Winchester can do the same with a win over Luray Saturday night. The Royals game at Front Royal tonight has been postponed because of rain and resceduled for Monday night. The Royals are also just a came back of New Market for the pennant in the Northern Division. The Cardinals kept their slim chances alive last night by defeating first place New Market on the road 5-3. The Rebels were scheduled to play at Luray this evening, however that game has been postponed as well and rescheduled for Monday night.

In the Southern Division, Covington clinched a playoff berth last night by defeating Waynesboro 4-3, and Harrisonburg dealt Staunton's playoff hopes a serious blow in an extra-inning win over the Braves last night in Staunton. The Braves are now 3 1/2 games out of the final spot in the Southern Division. The Lumberjacks and Turks both have four games left, however the Braves only have three left, two of which are against Harrisonburg. However, Harrisonburg can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over Waynesboro tonight. The Turks are just a game back of Covington in the pennant race and the two teams will meet on the final night of the regular season Monday night in Harrisonburg. The game, originally sceduled for Tuesday, July 13, was rained out on consecutive nights and resceduled for Monday.

If two teams tie for first place, a one game playoff for the pennant will take place. The home team will be determined by the two teams head-to-head record. If the head-to-head record is also tied, the two teams' intra-division records will be the deciding factor. A simple coin-toss will decide the home team if the intra-division records are also tied. The same format will apply for any second place ties as well.

The All-Valley League ballots have been sent out to media covering the Valley League with the results scheduled to be released late Monday afternoon. The All-League team will consist of eight position players, a designated hitter, a utility player, three starting pitchers, and two relief pitchers for a total of 15 spots. The MVP ballots have been sent out to the teams as well with the results also scheduled to be released on Monday. Barring any additional rain-outs that prolongue the season past Monday, the batting champion and ERA champion will be named Tuesday morning.

Editor's Note: If any media personnel that covered the Valley League this season did not receive an All-League ballot that wishes to receive one, please contact Mark Hoskins at hoskinmj@jmu.edu or 540-568-6154.