Can-Am Brockton Rox

Playoff Road Starts Wednesday Night As Rox Face Pittsfield

Published on September 7, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


Brockton, Mass. - The Brockton Rox return to the Can-Am League postseason on Wednesday evening, taking on the Pittsfield Colonials in the first game of the best-of-five series at Campanelli Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Games 1 and 2 will take place in Brockton, while Game 3, as well as Games 4 and 5 if necessary, will be held at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield.

Brockton put together a 54-39 record during the regular season, finishing second in both halves and receiving the third seed in the playoffs. Highlights of the Rox regular season included two separate nine-game winning streaks, one from June 15-23 and the other from August 6-14. Pittsfield finished the season 48-45, but received the second seed by virtue of winning the second half with a 28-18 record, one game ahead of the Rox.

Since starting the season 10-21, the Colonials have come on strong, going 11-1 in their last 12 games and 38-24 overall.The Rox and Colonials faced off 20 times during the regular season, with Brockton putting together a 16-4 record.

Brockton is led into the playoffs by its stellar starting rotation, which includes both of the league's post-season all-star starters, righthander Mike Smith and lefthander Mike Wlodarczyk. Game 1 starter Smith, a former major-leaguer with Toronto and Minnesota, led the Can-Am League with 12 victories and a 2.87 ERA. Wlodarczyk, who finished first in the 2010 campaign with 115 strikeouts and 130.1 innings pitched, will be on the mound for the second game. Game 3 starter Freddy Flores also put together a 10-2 record, and was fifth with a 3.29 ERA, while Wayne Lundgren, scheduled to start Game 4, broke the franchise record for wins this season, and now has 29 in his Rox career.

On offense, Brockton is led by 2010 Can-Am League Player of the Year 1B Melvin Falu, who finished first in the league with 20 home runs to go along with a .314 average, 15 doubles and 66 RBI. The balanced Rox offense was second in the league with a .285 average and 523 runs scored.

Pittsfield's strength has been its hitting, as the Colonials put together a league-best .289 mark on the season, and are led by league batting champion Daniel Carte, who hit .347. The club also has the players with the third- and fourth-best averages on the season, Danny Bomback (.324) and Matt Nandin (.321). On the mound, starter Miguel Flores had ten victories, tied with Wlodarczyk and Freddy Flores for third-most in the Can-Am.

In the other playoff series, top seed and first-half champion Quebec, sporting a 57-37 record, will face New Jersey, which edged out Worcester for the final playoff spot with a 42-50 mark. The Capitales won the 2009 Can-Am League championship, defeating Worcester in the final round after dispatching the Rox in the semifinals.

Prior to 2009, the Rox had reached the post-season three times. In 2006, the club lost to Quebec in the league finals; in 2005, Brockton lost to Quebec in the semifinals; and in 2003, the Rox defeated North Shore for the Northeast League championship.

Semifinal Round

Game 1: Pittsfield at Brockton, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 7:05, Mike Smith (12-3) vs. Miguel Flores (10-4)

Game 2: Pittsfield at Brockton, Thursday, Sept. 9, 7:05, Mike Wlodarczyk (10-3) vs. David Qualben (6-7)

Game 3: Brockton at Pittsfield, Friday, Sept. 10, 7:05, Freddy Flores (10-2) vs. Kyle Zaleski (8-6)

Game 4: Brockton at Pittsfield (if necessary), Saturday, Sept. 11, 6:05, Wayne Lundgren (7-6) vs. TBA

Game 5: Brockton at Pittsfield (if necessary), Sunday, Sept. 12, 2:05

Check out the Brockton Rox Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Canadian American League Stories from September 7, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central