Division Round Recaps

American League

Cleveland and Cincinnati split their first 2 games, then the Katannas took over. The lineup banged out 14 hits in Game 3 (homers by Wheat and Joyner), and Billy Brocail held Cincy to a run on 4 hits through 8 innings - Cleveland took an easy 8-1 win. The Waste Managers did manage to score first in Game 4, but from there it was another dominating win for Cleveland. Bill Priest slammed 2 homers and Lorenzo Rodriguez was in control for 8 innings in a 7-2 Cleveland romp.

Jackson opened against Salem by building up an 8-1 lead behind Johnny Collier's 5 scoreless innings of work. The Goonies rallied in the 9th on a Jose Vargas slam, but Orlando Diaz came in to get the last out and preserve an 8-5 win. Game 2 was a lesson in bunching hits. Salem's 1 run came on a solo shot by Leonardo Hardy, while Geronimo Perez' blast for Jackson followed a pair of singles. That was the difference...the Holes won 3-1 and opened a 2 games to none lead. Game 4 saw the Goonies get a pair of unearned runs on a Mark Liverman blast; outside of that, the Holes' Del Mendoza and 3 relievers were virtually unhittable. Costello and Perisho homered and Jackson had a 4-2 win and the sweep.

That sets up Holes/Katannas VI (Cleveland took the first 2; Jackson the last 3).

National League

In the first NL Division Series, Oakland's pitching completely manhandled Mexico City, giving up just 3 runs in the 3 games. Characteristically, Gary Ramsey handled a lot of the load, going 12 innings and allowing just a run. The Surenos didn't blow anybody out, but put up enough offense to win 2 of the 3 games comfortably (4 homers in the series, 2 by Erubiel Maduro). With the sweep, the Surenos move on to the NLCS for the 4th straight year.

The most interesting Division Series turned out to be #1 seed Las Vegas and #4 Burlington. The Lake Monsters ambushed Vegas at home, winning the first 2 games 4-2 and 4-3. The 69ers had their backs to the wall in Game 3 - they outhit Burlington 15-6 but still went to extra innings tied 3-3. Then Brad Perkins led off the 10th with a solo homer, and when Juan Gomez entered the game in the bottom of the 10th, it was money in the bank. Vegas had survived 4-3.

The Monsters seemed a little deflated in Game 4, as Adrian Jensen twirled a complete-game shutout. Bruskie and Wengert homered in a laugher (9-0).

Burlington seemed to have their mojo back in Game 5 - solo homers by starting pitcher Teddy Nelson and Wes Phillips staked them to a 2-1 lead in the third. But Vegas roared back with 3 in their half of the third and 1 more in the 4th for a 5-2 lead. That's how it ended, as Pat Yamamoto went 6 and 2/3rds for the 69ers, and Borges and Gmoex allowed no runners over the final 2 and and third.

Vegas moves on to the NLCS for the first time since Season 11, when they lost to the eventual WS Champ Charleston Apologists (now Memphis).