With just three games left in the West Coast League season, there remains plenty of drama as South Division teams battle for their final positions and four North teams remain in a desperate battle for three remaining spots.
In the South, the #1 seeded Corvallis Knights, having already clinched the first-half title, will face the division’s #4 seed in the best-of-three divisional series as they attempt to capture an otherworldly eighth straight WCL championship, with the series scheduled to open in the lower seed’s stadium Saturday, August 10.
Meanwhile, the red-hot Ridgefield Raptors have their eyes set on the second-half title, and they do control their own destiny. Winning would secure them the #2 seed and a divisional series with the Portland Pickles. However, if the Pickles pass the Raptors and fend off the Knights for first place in the second half, they’ll face the Bend Elks in the first round, with the Raptors dropping to the #4 seed and meeting Corvallis (due to scheduling protocols, the Pickles will likely play one more second-half game than the Raptors, eliminating the possibility of a tie).
The North Division presents a completely different sort of drama. The Wenatchee AppleSox, first-half champs, are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and will meet the division’s #4 seed, also starting Saturday. However, their opponent remains highly uncertain, as four teams—the Bellingham Bells, Edmonton Riverhawks, Nanaimo NightOwls, and Victoria HarbourCats—are still alive for the three remaining playoff spots, all with tightly bunched records.
The Bells and HarbourCats, perennial contenders, bring a wealth of postseason experience to the table, while the NightOwls and Riverhawks are battling for their first-ever postseason berths.
The NightOwls face the toughest road, as their only route to the postseason includes a tie atop the second-half standings, which can happen only if they sweep the Riverhawks this week and the AppleSox are swept in Bend. And even then, the NightOwls would need some help from the HarbourCats’ and Bells’ opponents, as both of those teams could also finish first in the second half.
All this drama begins to unfold tonight, with Nanaimo hosting Edmonton, Victoria hosting Corvallis, and Bellingham visiting the Springfield Drifters. Tuesday, those series continue while Wenatchee opens their series in Bend, Ridgefield visits Walla Walla, and Portland hosts the Kelowna Falcons.
The stage is set for an unforgettable climax to the West Coast League season, with each of these next four days likely to determine seeding for the playoffs that open Saturday. The full playoff procedures can be viewed here.
About the West Coast League: The West Coast League is western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Encompassing Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta, the WCL showcases pro prospects from major collegiate conferences around the nation. Every summer, the League features unparalleled fan and player experiences, with tremendous baseball weather and a mix of classic and modern ballparks, all backdropped by the sport’s most stunning scenery. MLB’s 2024 amateur draft opened with former Corvallis Knight Travis Bazzana selected as the overall No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Guardians, and this summer’s WCL All-Star Game aired live on MLB Network.
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