'Cats Final Homestand Very Meaningful
Published on September 3, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats (50-23) return home tonight to host the McNamara Division Champion Hudson Valley Renegades (50-23) at 5pm in the final three-game series of the regular season, three games that will decide the best overall record in the New York-Penn League. More importantly, the winner of this series will be rewarded with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It may also be a preview of the League Championship Series.
The ValleyCats are coming off of their worst road trip of the season in which they went 2-5, and were swept by the last place Vermont Lake Monsters. The series included a no-hitter against the 'Cats on Saturday, in which the Lake Monsters used a combined three pitchers to silence the league's best hitting team. Tri-City has lost four games in-a-row, the most all season, and are still looking for their 51st win, which would set a new franchise record.
The Renegades and ValleyCats have already won their respective divisions, leaving the Pinckney Division and Wild Card as the two playoff spots currently up for grabs. Right now, three teams are tied for those two remaining playoff spots. The Auburn Doubledays, Batavia Muckdogs and Brooklyn Cyclones all have a 44-29 record. Brooklyn is second to Hudson Valley in the McNamara Division, so they can only capture the Wild Card spot, while Auburn and Batavia will battle it out for the Pinckney Division title.
With three remaining games for each team, they all control their own destiny. The Cyclones three remaining games are at home against the Lowell Spinners, while Auburn and Batavia have one remaining game against each other on Monday night before hosting Williamsport and Jamestown respectively. Should Brooklyn sweep the Spinners, they would sit at 47-29 and would clinch the Wild Card since either Auburn or Batavia will have a loss following Monday night.
Meanwhile, the ValleyCats will have to wait to find out who their first round playoff opponent is. The 'Cats are guaranteed home field in the first round thanks to their record. Game one will take place Friday, September 7 on the road (site to be determined) and game two at "The Joe" will be on Saturday, September 8. Each round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series.
The ValleyCats three-game set with Hudson Valley begins tonight with a special first pitch time of 5pm and a postgame fireworks show presented by Price Chopper. Tuesday is Irish Night, presented by the Irish 2000 Music & Arts Festival, with a pregame concert by Hair of the Dog at 5pm and first pitch at 7pm. Wednesday concludes the 2012 regular season on Fans for Life Night, presented by TD Bank, with a special first pitch time of 6pm. There will be a postgame fireworks extravaganza presented by Price Chopper to cap off the night.
Tickets for this series and the 2012 playoffs are available online at www.tcvalleycats.com, by phone at (518) 629-CATS, or by visiting the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium box office.
New York-Penn League Stories from September 3, 2012
- Stewart Smacks Two Homers in Tigers Win - Norwich Sea Unicorns
- Doubledays Power Past Muckdogs 5-3 - Auburn Doubledays
- Aberdeen Beats Vermont 3-2 In 11 Innings - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Spinners Spiraling Toward End, 4-1 - Lowell Spinners
- Wild Finish; IronBirds Take Series Opener in Extras - Aberdeen IronBirds
- Hudson Valley Topples Tri-City 2-1 in 11 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Herrera Heads up Spikes Offense, But 'Cutters Take 7-2 Decision - State College Spikes
- Crosscutters Take SawBuck Series - Williamsport Crosscutters
- State College Spikes Game Notes - September 3 at Williamsport - State College Spikes
- 'Cats Final Homestand Very Meaningful - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Doubledays Lose Battle with Muckdogs 8-7 - Auburn Doubledays
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