The Tri-City ValleyCats at-bat against the Cyclones in the 5th inning of the season’s second-to-last regular season game. Photo credit: Brian Hedden
The Brooklyn Cyclones will close out their second-best season in team history today with a 5pm game against the Tri-City ValleyCats (Troy, NY). The Cyclones have split their weekend series with the ValleyCats – last night’s 8-7 loss, which saw the Cyclones come back to tie the game twice before giving up a run in the ninth, dropped their record to 50-24.
Regardless the outcome of today’s game, the Cyclones will finish with the best record in the New York-Penn League by a country mile. They’ll start the playoffs against the NYPL wildcard – either the Williamsport Crosscutters (the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate) or the Jamestown Jammers (Florida Marlins). The three-game semi-final starts Tuesday night in Williamsport/Jamestown, then moves to Coney Island on Wednesday and (if necessary) Thursday. For schedule and ticket information, see the Cyclones web site.
While the Cyclones clinched their division a week ago, the ValleyCats go into the season’s final game fighting for their playoff lives. A win against the Cyclones will give them the Stedler Division and a playoff berth against the Batavia Muckdogs (St. Louis Cardinals). A loss opens the door for the Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers) to force the ValleyCats out of the playoffs.
When the Cyclones advance to the final, Game 1 will be played in Batavia/Troy/Norwich on Thursday or Friday, with Games 2 and 3 being played in Coney Island. (Ya got that, Great Pumpkin? I said When, not If.)
The defending NYPL champions, the Staten Island Yankees, go into Sunday’s games 15.5 games back of the Cyclones in the McNamara Division.
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