Atlantic City Surf Playoff Preview
September 2, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Atlantic City Surf News Release
The Atlantic City Surf start their first-round Can-Am League playoff series against the Quebec Capitales on Wednesday evening at Stade Municipal. The first two games of the best-of-five series will take place in Quebec on Wednesday and Thursday, before moving to Atlantic City for game three on Friday, as well as games four and five on Saturday and Sunday, if necessary.
The Surf earned the fourth seed in the playoffs with a 51-43 record. It marks the second straight year in which the Surf will participate in the league playoffs. In 2007, the team finished with a 51-41 record and lost in the first round to North Shore.
Quebec, which won the first half, did not qualify for the postseason in 2007, but has reached it in seven of the franchise's ten seasons, including a league championship in 2006. The Capitales' pitching staff features starters Michel Simard and Luis Valdez, who finished first and second, respectively, among the league's ERA leaders, while OF Alex Nunez and 1B Eddie Lantigua pace the team's offense. Nunez finished fourth in the circuit with a .339 batting average to go along with 20 stolen bases and 47 RBI. Lantigua, one of independent baseball's most notable sluggers, hit .307 with 60 RBI for the Capitales this season. Quebec also led the league in both team hitting and team earned-run average, assembling a .287 average and a 3.65 ERA.
The Surf are led offensively by LF Joe Burke, who was seventh in the Can-Am with a .327 average, and SS Anthony Granato, named the league's Player of the Week for the week of August 25-31 and Player of the Month for August. In 29 August games, Granato hit .391 with 31 RBI, 11 home runs, eight doubles, a .478 on-base percentage and a .765 slugging percentage. Game 1 starter Adam Cox finished behind only Brockton's John Kelly with 112 strikeouts, and was fourth with a 2.62 ERA. Atlantic City came in second with a .285 team batting average, while the pitching staff registered a 4.47 ERA, fourth-best in the league. The Surf also were tops in the circuit with 121 stolen bases.
In the league's other first-round series, Worcester travels to Sussex for the first two games of the series, before the Tornadoes host the final three games at Fitton Field.
Tickets are available for all five potential playoff games by calling the Surf box office at (609) 344-7873.
Pitching matchups for the series:
Game One - at Quebec, Wednesday, September 3, 7:05 p.m.
AC - Adam Cox (7-3, 2.62) vs. QUE - Michel Simard (13-2, 2.32)
Game Two - at Quebec, Thursday, September 4, 7:05 p.m.
AC - Brian Rodaway (10-9, 3.90) vs. QUE - Karl Gelinas (2-1, 4.62)
Game Three - at Atlantic City, Friday, September 5, 7:05 p.m.
QUE - Luis Valdez (9-4, 2.42) vs. AC - Charlie Ruud (0-1, 6.39)
Game Four - at Atlantic City, Saturday, September 6, 7:05 p.m.
(if necessary)
QUE - Orlando Trias (9-6, 4.04) vs. AC - Rory Shortell (10-3, 4.97)
Game Five - at Atlantic City, Sunday, September 7, 7:05 p.m.
(if necessary)
QUE - Michel Simard (13-2, 2.32) vs. AC - Adam Cox (7-3, 2.62)
Can-Am League Championship Series
Tuesday, September 9
Team with best overall winning percentage at other first-round winner
Wednesday, September 10
Team with best overall winning percentage at other first-round winner
Thursday, September 11
Other first-round winner at team with best overall winning percentage
Friday, September 12 (if necessary)
Other first-round winner at team with best overall winning percentage
Saturday, September 13 (if necessary)
Other first-round winner at team with best overall winning percentage
SURF ATTENDANCE UP 24 PERCENT
The Surf drew 124,430 fans to their 45 home games this season, for an average of 2,765 per game. Not only did the club break its average attendance record (previously 2,718, set in 1999), but the figure also represents a 24 percent increase from the 2007 season, when Atlantic City averaged 2,103. It is also a 20.5 percent increase from home games during the same time period in 2006 (May 26 through September 1), when the club played in the longer-season Atlantic League.
Overall, the Surf finished third in attendance in the Can-Am League, behind Quebec (3,203 per game) and Brockton (3,018).
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Canadian American League Stories from September 2, 2008
- Atlantic City Surf Playoff Preview - Atlantic City Surf
- Lanier Named Manager Of The Year - Sussex Skyhawks
- Skyhawks' Hal Lanier Named Manager Of The Year - Can-Am
- Playoff Update - Sussex Skyhawks
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