Beavers part of new PCL divisional alignment

Published on October 7, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Pacific Coast League today announced a realignment of its divisions for the 2005 season with the admission of the Round Rock Express into the 16-team circuit.

All but one of the league's four divisions will feature changes for the upcoming season, representing the most significant reorganization since the circuit expanded to 16 teams in 1998. In the American Conference, the division names themselves will also change from East and Central to the American Conference Northern Division and American Conference Southern Division, respectively.

The Portland Beavers are part of a slightly altered Pacific Conference Northern Division. The Beavers, the defending division champions, again will be joined by rivals Salt Lake and Tacoma in the division, while the Colorado Springs Sky Sox jump conferences altogether to join the new-look North. The Sky Sox were previously included in the American Conference's Central Division.

The Express, the newest member of the PCL who make the jump from the Class AA Texas League, will play in the American Conference's Southern Division, where they will be joined by Albuquerque, Oklahoma and New Orleans. The Isotopes are the only team to remain in the division from last year, while the RedHawks and Zephyrs enter the group after playing in the Eastern Division since the two teams joined the league seven years ago.

Former Central Division stalwarts Iowa and Omaha will align with Memphis and Nashville to form the American Conference North, a division rife with geographic rivalries.

The Pacific Conference Southern Division will remain the only group untouched by change, continuing to be the home of Fresno, Las Vegas, Tucson, and 2004 PCL champion Sacramento.

As in years past, the PCL will feature a 144-game unbalanced schedule, with conference teams playing each other 16 times and squaring off against teams from the other conference in one four-game series.

PACIFIC CONFERENCE
Northern Division
Portland Beavers
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Salt Lake Stingers
Tacoma Rainiers

Southern Division
Fresno Grizzlies
Las Vegas 51s
Sacramento River Cats
Tucson Sidewinders

AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Northern Division
Iowa Cubs
Memphis Redbirds
Nashville Sounds
Omaha Royals

Southern Division
Albuquerque Isotopes
New Orleans Zephyrs
Oklahoma RedHawks
Round Rock Express

BEAVERS NOTES: On Thursday, the San Diego Padres outrighted outfielder Kerry Robinson and right-handed pitchers Steve Watkins and Ricky Stone to the Beavers roster ... the Beavers announced earlier this week that season tickets for the 2005 season are currently on sale by phoning (503) 553-5555.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from October 7, 2004


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