NALB - 2011 Regular Season Ends

Despite some pressure early in the season from a very good Mudcats team, the Brooklyn Knights easily wrapped up their 12th consecutive division title and clinched a playoff birth on September 6. The 2009 World Champion Nashville Firecats stumbled last year. However, they went from worst to first in their division and outpaced the Cornfield Axemen by nine games. In League 2, the divisional races were much closer, going down to the last day. The Maples, a perennial powerhouse, needed all 162 games to clinch the division over the impressive Key West Corals. In the other division, the Slam and Crusaders were tied with 89 wins after 162 games. This forced game 163, a one-game playoff. At home with starter Joe Lehr on the mound, Richmond prevailed 6-3.

The League Series match-ups:
Nashville Firecats (99-63) vs. Brooklyn Knights (121-41)
Stade Maples (95-67) vs. Richmond Slam (90-73)

Playoff injury report:
The Firecats will have to make do without relief pitcher Casey Gayford, center fielder José Fernández, and left fielder Gary Mccreery. The Knights are still recovering from injuries that decimated their “dream team” pitching staff. Bob Wiesner, José Arisa, and Tracy Corkhill are unavailable for the League Series. Richmond will be without CF Angel Jirnénez, MR Walt O’Connell, CF Hilly King, and SP Katamor Eizan. The following Maples players will not make the playoff roster due to injury: RF Jordan Blanchard, CL Walt Suarez, and 1B Buddy Akins.