Akron Ready To Make A Run At Its Third Championship In Five Years
Published on September 4, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON -- The Akron Aeros (80-61) made a late charge in the standings to not only secure its spot in the Easter League playoffs, but push the Erie SeaWolves (81-59) division title hopes the the final game of the regular-season. Akron now looks looks to try and win its third-straight Southern Division title and make its fourth appearance in the EL Championship series in the last five years, winning the title in 2003 and 2005 as they will take on Erie for the Southern Division championship starting Wednesday, September 5 in Erie, PA.
With less then a week remaining in the regular-season, Akron had lost three games in a row and 10 out of 14 games, including two in a row with two games left in a series against Bowie, who trailed the Aeros by just two games for the final playoff spot.
Akron responded by winning the final two games of the series and clinching the second seed in the Southern Division playoff series against Erie, eliminating . However, Akron would not stop there, trailing by five games Akron won a season-high tying six in a row to close to with in a half game of Erie on the final day of the regular-season.
With a win over Altoona, Erie clinched its spot at Southern Division champions and will host the Akron Aeros in game one of the playoffs on Wednesday, September 5 at 7:05 p.m. Chuck Lofgren will look to steal home-field advantage from the SeaWolves as he will take the mound against Eddie Bonine of Erie.
During the regular-season, Erie won the series battle going 15-13 against the Aeros. Lofgren did not fair well going 0-3 with a 6.82 earned run average. Bonine was 5-1 with a 3.71 ERA against Akron, while no other pitcher had more then two wins against the Aeros.
Game two will place Jake Dittler against Burke Badenhop, who the Aeros have yet to face this season. Dittler went 6-1 for Akron in 20 games (nine starts), including 1-0 against Erie (four games - one start). Badenhop made only three starts with Erie since being called up from Single A, but has made them count going 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA. He has pitched two complete games (one nine inning and one seven inning game). He has given up three runs in 18.2 innings.
The series will move back to Canal Park in Akron on Friday, September 7 and continue on Saturday, September 8 (if necessary) for games three and four, both at 7:05 p.m. Pitchers for those games will be announced later this week. If the series goes to a fifth and final game, the teams will travel back to Erie on Sunday, September 9 at 6:05 p.m. to crown a Southern Division champion.
Eastern League Stories from September 4, 2007
- Sea Dogs top Fisher Cats 7-4 to earn playoff spot - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Sea Dogs Advance to Eastern League Playoffs - Portland Sea Dogs
- Eastern League update - EL1
- Akron Ready To Make A Run At Its Third Championship In Five Years - Akron RubberDucks
- Brown and Reddick Join Sea Dogs - Portland Sea Dogs
- Jimenez Selected As Eastern League Player Of The Week - Chesapeake Baysox
- Luis Munoz Named E.L. Pitcher of the Week - Altoona Curve
- Eastern League Announces Weekly Award Winners - EL1
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