Bittersweet Friday for Caps as Playoff Push Ends
September 4, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Edmonton Capitals News Release
Victoria, B.C. - The Edmonton Capitals kicked off their final series of the Golden Baseball League season with an 8-5 win over the Victoria Seals on Friday, only to find out the same day that they officially had no chance of making the post-season.
The Caps were eliminated from the race for the GBL's North Division second half title on Wednesday in Edmonton when they lost 4-3 to the Seals. But heading into the final series of the regular season, it was believed they still had a slim chance to advance to the playoffs in the wildcard spot.
The Caps needed the Chico Outlaws to win all four of their remaining games against the St. George Roadrunners and the Calgary Vipers to lose all four of their games against the Tijuana Cimarrones, while also winning at least two of their final four games in Victoria. Chico won the first half, and if they passed Calgary and won the second half as well, the Caps could have earned a playoff spot if they finished with a better overall record than Calgary.
But that glimmer of hope faded quickly on Friday when the Caps found out that Chico had opted not to play their final four games against the Roadrunners. The St. George squad had been taken over by the GBL midway through the season and began playing their scheduled home games on the road as well.
However, if the team they were supposed to be playing at home couldn't accommodate the Roadrunners, those games were cancelled. Chico decided their final series with St. George wasn't able to be played, thus ending the Caps' slim playoff chances. Calgary crushed Tijuana 20-4 on Friday, which also would have mathematically eliminated Edmonton.
Friday's win over the Seals was due in large part to the hitting of sluggers Larry Bigbie and Cliff Brumbaugh. Both former Major League players hit home runs in the win, with Bigbie driving in a pair of runs and Brumbaugh knocking in four. Lou Pote picked up the win on the mound for Edmonton, tossing 6.2 innings and giving up four runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.
The Caps and Seals square off three more times to close out their respective GBL seasons, playing at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on both Sunday and Monday. First-half winner Chico and second-half winner Calgary will then battle it out for the North Division title.
The Capitals are Edmonton's first choice for professional baseball and family entertainment. Season seats for 2011 are now available, and individual game tickets will be available next season for just $10 every game. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, the TELUS Field Box Office during regular business hours, by calling (780) 414-GOAL (4625) or online at capsbaseball.ca.
• Discuss this story on the Golden Baseball League message board...
Golden Baseball League Stories from September 4, 2010
- Five-Run Sixth Breaks Deadlock - Calgary Vipers
- OC to host playoff game less than a week away - Orange County Flyers
- Outlaws' Topple 33 Franchise Records in 2010 - Chico Outlaws
- Victoria Seals Host Final Homestand This Weekend - Victoria Seals
- Keeble First Rookie to 100 Hits in GBL History - Orange County Flyers
- Texas Rangers Acquire Mark Prior from Flyers - Orange County Flyers
- Na Koa Takes Advantage of Flyers Errors - Orange County Flyers
- Bittersweet Friday for Caps as Playoff Push Ends - Edmonton Capitals
- Playoff Spot Clinched - Calgary Vipers
- Edmonton eliminates Seals with an 8-5 game one win - Victoria Seals
- Toros Win Their GBL Best 14th Straight Game 12-4 - Tucson Toros
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.
