CarL1 Frederick Keys

Battle of the Beltway Set

Published on September 7, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


Frederick, MD - When the Potomac Nationals clinched a playoff berth on Saturday night, the stage was set for the first post-season matchup between Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals affiliates since the return of baseball to D.C. in 2005. Harry Grove Stadium will play host to the first two games of the series on Wednesday September 8th and Thursday September 9th at 7:00 p.m. For tickets contact the Keys Box Office or purchase online at frederickkeys.com.

The Frederick Keys and Potomac/Prince William franchises have never met in the Carolina League Playoffs dating back to the Keys inclusion in the Carolina League in 1989. Frederick and Potomac however have had much success of late combining to win three of the last five Mills Cup Championships.

The Keys won the first half by nine games posting the second best first half record in franchise history at 41-29. 2010 marks just the third time the Keys have posted a winning record since 1994. Frederick finished the regular season with the best record in the division at 72-68.

Potomac is headed to the playoffs after outlasting the Wilmington Blue Rocks by 2.5 games in the second half. The Nationals organization won its first stateside minor league title in 2008 when Potomac won the Mills Cup. It also broke the longest Cup drought in the Carolina League as Potomac/Prince William had not won since 1989.

The Northern Division Championship Series will be a best-of-five series with the winner meeting either Kinston or Winston-Salem in the Mills Cup Championship Series to follow.

Below is a look into the Keys past playoff history:

1990

The Keys win both halves in the north for the only time in club history. Frederick is matched up with Kinston, who have a third baseman named Jim Thome, but the Keys win the deciding fifth game in come-from-behind fashion. Down 5-0 in the fourth inning, Frederick rallies to win 7-5 winning its first title on home turf in Harry Grove Stadium's inaugural season.

Most Famous Player: Arthur Rhodes

1993

The Keys win 43 games in the second half, claiming the division by six games with outfielder's Curtis Goodwin and Alex Ochoa leading the way. The club runs out of gas in the playoffs swept away by Wilmington after the Blue Rocks score six runs in the top of the first inning of game one of the Northern Division Championship Series.

Most Famous Player: Armando Benitez

1997

Frederick posts its best half in franchise history racing out of the gate to go 45-24 in the first half earning a trip to the playoffs. The team struggles once it has claimed the playoff berth however winning only 24 second half games to finish 18 games behind Lynchburg. The Hillcats use an Aramis Ramirez home run in game two to sweep the Keys away in the Northern Division Championship Series.

Most Famous Player: Josh Towers

2000

With three big league players in its opening day lineup, the Keys win the first half by three games with a 38-32 record. Unfortunately it is Lynchburg that once again upends the Keys in the Northern Division Championship Series fall in consecutive games in the postseason.

Most Famous Player: Brian Roberts

2001

The Keys have its first winning season since 1994 finishing in second place in the second half to earn a wild card berth to take on Wilmington in the Northern Division Championship Series. For a fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs the Keys do not win a game, falling 13-0 in the clincher at Frawley Stadium.

Most Famous Player: Erik Bedard

2005

After playing .500 baseball in the first half the Keys go on a second half run going to win the division by six games while posting the best record in franchise history at 79-61. In the Northern Division Championship Series the Keys win the series opener at home in walk-off fashion over Lynchburg en route to a series sweep. In the Mills Cup Championship Series, Frederick and Kinston go to a decisive game five where Brian Finch shuts out Kinston in a 2-0 title clinching win.

Most Famous Player: Nick Markakis

2006

After a tough first half, the Keys sneak into the playoffs going 35-34 in the second half to earn a date in the playoffs against Wilmington. The Keys stun the Blue Rocks winning two-in-a-row at Frawley Stadium to clinch the North. The finals bring a match-up with Kinston which does not go well for Frederick as the Keys are swept in three games.

Most Famous Player: Nolan Reimold

2007

The Keys slip into the playoffs being the worst team to win a pennant in Carolina League History clinching the north with a first half record of 32-37. Frederick wins the north, with starter Chorye Spoone throwing a one-hitter in the clincher. Facing Salem in the finals, the Keys win consecutive games at Salem Memorial Ballpark to claim its third title in franchise history in four games.

Most Famous Player: Brad Bergesen

The Keys are headed to the Carolina League Playoffs and tickets are currently on-sale. Game One of the Northern Division Championship Series is set for Wednesday, September 8th at 7:00 p.m. from Harry Grove Stadium. Tickets range from $8-11 and can be purchased by calling the Keys Box Office at 1-877-8-GO-KEYS or by visiting online at frederickkeys.com.

Check out the Frederick Keys Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from September 7, 2010


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