Rarely do you need a calculator to determine playoff positions, but that was the case in the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League. Wednesday marks the final day of the regular season and there is one game remaining.
It's simple, if the Lloydminster Midget Twins win against the St. Walburg Reds they clinched the eighth spot, if they lose the Kindersley Raiders hold onto the eighth spot.
The Lloydminster Meridian Twins clinched the top spot with a 12-0-1 record and will face either the Lloydminster Midgets or Kindersley depending on Wednesday's result.
In second will be the Wilkie Brewers with an 11-2 record, as they won their final game of the season Thursday against the Lloydminster Midgets in Wilkie by a 7-0 score. Barrett Nielsen was the winning pitcher for the Brewers earning his second win of the season.
The Brewers will face the seventh place North Battleford Beavers who finished with a 7-6 record. Through the tie breaking formula of the runs for and against differential against the teams tied, the Beavers grabbed the seventh spot. Wilkie and North Battleford were looking to schedule game one of the series in Wilkie either Wednesday or Thursday and play game two back in North Battleford either Monday or Tuesday.
Meadow Lake finished 9-4 and in second place and will play the 7-6 Unity Cardinals.
In fourth and fifth place will be the Border City Blue Jays who were 8-5 and the Lloydminster Junior Redhawks who were 8-4. Because the Redhawks didn't complete their schedule, the league commissioners decided the two Lloydminster teams were unofficially tied and if the series goes to a third game the home team will be determined by a coin toss.
On the outside of the playoff picture will be the 1-12 Midwest Espox, the 1-11 St. Walburg Reds, the 2-11 Unity Midget A's, the 3-9-1 Standard Hill Lakers and the 6-6 Mervin Flyers.
As for the results of the final week, two games were scheduled for Monday but neither was played. The Mervin Flyers and Lloydminster Juniors were rained out and Kindersley couldn't field a team and were forced to forfeit 7-0 against the Lloydminster Midgets, which could cost them a playoff spot.
Sunday, Meadow Lake beat the Unity Midgets 14-3 and Kindersley 10-6. The Unity Midgets ended their season with a 9-6 win over the Midwest Expos.
Friday, the Twins ended their regular season with an 11-0 win over Meadow Lake, who beat the Expos 10-6 Thursday.
The first round should be started this week for all teams and must be completed by July 29.
