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KCRoyals15 · 01-14-2025, 02:42 PM

1992

"New-Look Ballparks Beginning to Dot Landscape" read the headline in the May 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated .

"For three decades the standard in stadium construction is a concrete monstrosity that, when applicable, is also built to accommodate professional football, leaving a layout that leaves much to be desired for the baseball tenants who habitually play in front of tens of thousands of unsold seats every night."

"Over the last few years the trend has begun to swing back towards stadia that meet the needs of the modern consumer, but also harken back to the ballparks of yore: incorporating brick and exposed steel into their design. More importantly, new stadiums going up will be doing so solely to host baseball, leading to better sightlines, cozier confines, and in many cases, smaller, more-intimate venues."

"Buffalo's Pilot Field was the blueprint when it opened in 1988 and Baltimore's Camden Yards which opened last month has taken that concept to a new level with large crowds and rave reviews."

"Plenty of other teams are taking notice. Norfolk is playing their final season at Metropolitan Memorial Stadium this season before the waterfront Ballpark at Harbor Yard opens next season. Salt Lake City is in the midst of a tricky project in which the shell of a new stadium is going up around Derks Field as they continue to play there. After the season, Derks will meet the wrecking ball and a new stadium is expected to be close to, if not entirely complete by next opening day."

"Likewise, Cleveland, Dallas, and San Jose are expected to open new stadiums in 1994. The woefully dated Dodger Dome in Brooklyn will meet the wrecking ball, as construction on a new ballpark harkening back to their days at Ebbets Field began last fall, with an anticipated opening in 1995. Portland is expected to break ground on a badly-needed new facility next month, with a scheduled 1996 opening."

"Even the American Baseball League has already seen a new (though more spartan) stadium open in 1990 for the Chicago Cyclones and a new park in Denver going up to open in 1995, with more projects planned around the league."

"What does this mean? Well, for John Q. Taxpayer, it means a little lighter wallet, as taxes are going up in many cities to pay for these majority—if not entirely—taxpayer funded facilities. Some of have protested this development, and reasonably so. But municipalities are recognizing that keeping their franchises will take modern facilities with nine-figure price tags."

"As for the new tenants, Baltimore and Buffalo have seen strong attendance gains in their new facilities and the teams expecting new homes are anticipating significantly more fans in the stands, leading to higher revenues—and higher player salaries. Not only that, but many of these venues are being built closer to city centers, with the goal of revitalizing blighted areas left to rot for three decades."

"Where will this arms race end? That remains to be seen, but distressed downtown areas, the teams playing in these venues, and the fans attending games there are seeing their benefits. The race is on, but don't expect it to stop anytime soon."

The 1992 season saw a resurgence of more dominant teams, with five 100-win teams outside the PCL (and a sixth at 99). Three of them resided in the Northern Conference, including two in New England League. Manhattan and the Philadelphia A's both finished 100-62 to take the two playoff spots there. The Midwest Association, though, had 102-60 Milwaukee, while in their second season back in the majors, Cincinnati improved by 19½ games, winning a one-game playoff with Buffalo to finish second, earning their first major league playoff spot since 1900.

In the postseason, Manhattan disposed of Philadelphia in five games. Meanwhile, Cincinnati started off the playoffs with a four-game sweep to upset Milwaukee. The Buckeyes were not done, upsetting the Yankees as well to earn their first-ever Conference Championship.

In the Southern Conference, two more tight races transpired. Jacksonville finally broke their string of second-place finishes with 100 wins and an Eastern League pennant. 11 games back, Norfolk and Baltimore tied for second, with the Admirals winning that showdown. In the Western League, three teams finished within two games, with New Orleans winning their fourth-straight pennant (albeit 22 games worse than their 114-win juggernaut from 1991), one game ahead of St. Louis, who also slipped in, and Pittsburgh the odd man out, one game back of the Browns and two behind the Pelicans.

In the League Finals, Jacksonville dumped Norfolk in five years, while New Orleans atoned for their postseason failures of last year, defeating St. Louis in seven games. The Pelicans then pummeled the Admirals in five games to win their second Conference Championship in five years.

The Pacific Coast League saw San Francisco post a league-best 123-77 record, winning the North by a dozen games over Seattle, who returned to the postseason after a two-year absence. The South was won by San Diego, their record 15th-straight playoff appearance, but Los Angeles notably finished second, recording their first playoff appearance in nine years, their first winning season (108-92) since 1965 and best record since 1950.

The two Division Series were both excellent. Favored San Francisco was pushed hard by Seattle, but the Seals came out in front in seven games. The South also went the full seven games, with San Diego edging Los Angeles. The finals were anticlimactic, as the Seals swept the Padres to repeat as PCL champions, their fourth in six years.

In the Texas League, Oklahoma City won their second division title in three years with 101 wins, finishing as the only winning team in the North. Wichita finished second at 79-83, edging out Dallas by a game for the second playoff spot. The South also saw a dominant team in 99-win Austin, who won their sixth-straight division crown. Houston nudged out Galveston by three games for second place and a playoff spot.

Despite being overwhelming favorites, OKC got all they could handle from Wichita, but in the end, the Indians emerged victorious in seven games. In the South, another seven-game set ensued, but in this one, Houston pulled the upset, as the Buffaloes downed the Wranglers. Houston finished the job as well, upsetting Oklahoma City in the Lone Star Series in five games, their first TL title in 19 seasons.

The national tournament saw one first-time participant, whose run came to an end as the New Orleans Pelicans (SOU) defeat the Cincinnati Buckeyes (NOR). Meanwhile, the San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the Houston Buffaloes (TL). The Pelicans were playing for a title for the first time, but they wouldn't get it, as the San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the New Orleans Pelicans (SOU), 4-2 to win their seventh National Championship, at long last matching Kansas City (who last won in 1947) for most all time.

Cincinnati's surprise run to a Northern Conference title was led in large part by 25-year-old shortstop Bob Ortiz. In his fourth season as a Buckeye, Ortiz slashed .312/.370/.457 with 185 hits, 89 runs, 29 doubles, 19 homers, and 108 RBI, earning MVP honors.

For the second year in a row, Manhattan righty Freddy Perez took home Pitcher of the Year in the North, going 18-15 with a 2.86 ERA, leading the North with 207 strikeouts over 258.0 innings to earn the hardware.

One of the most feared sluggers of the second half of the 80's, New Orleans' Mario Zuniga was still slugging throughout the 90's, slashing .303/.421/.617 with 163 hits, 101 runs, 34 doubles, and leading the South with 45 homers and 144 RBI, earning Southern Conference MVP honors for the third time.

Pittsburgh's Ismael Villavicencio had a very strange career. After debuting and posting three very good years as a closer, he moved to the rotation in 1989, where he was one of the best in the league, culminating in a 23-7 record and 2.15 ERA in 1992, leading the South in both marks, while striking out 201 in 267.1 innings and earning Pitcher of the Year. Then for reasons known only to god, Villavicencio immediately moved back to the bullpen and did not start a single game over the final ten years of his career...after winning Pitcher of the Year in his final season as a starter. Somebody had to get fired for that, right?

San Franciso's 26-year-old rookie Josh Jones took the Pacific Coast League by storm in his debut season, slashing .340/.481/.498, winning the PCL batting title, leading the league in OBP, slashed 218 hits, scored a league-high 144 runs, stroked 55 doubles, 13 triples, 7 homers, and drove in 106 runs, while stealing 47 bases, earning MVP and Rookie of the Year honors. Jones had two more excellent full seasons before injuries began wrecking his career, including a stunning six-straight seasons where he failed to appear in even 90 games solely due to ailments.

Los Angeles' best season in decades was also led by a rookie phenom. 23-year-old Jamie Davis went 19-8 with a PCL-best 2.25 ERA, also leading the league in starts (43) and striking out 206 over 316.0 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year, though like Jones, injuries would also begin racking up quickly and he was effectively done as an effective big-leaguer at 28.

Despite turning just 36 mid-season and logging a 3.55 ERA in 187.2 innings, Seattle's Jamie Evans elected to retire, pitching just 12 years, but winning five Pitcher of the Year trophies and winning nearly 250 games in his stellar career.

After two seasons in Newark, Oklahoma City flipped a back-end starter to the Eagles for All-Star second baseman Donovan Sabo. A deal that seemed lopsided right away indeed was, as Sabo slashed .301/.382/.525 in his first year in OKC, with 175 hits, a Texas League-high 110 runs, 43 doubles, 6 triples, 25 homers, and 104 RBI, earning TL MVP honors.

After spending his first two big-league seasons in the bullpen, 23-year-old Derek Markle moved into the rotation and excelled right away. He went 22-6 with a 2.47 ERA, leading the TL in both marks while logging 237.0 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year honors.

Ft. Worth's Ramon Lugo slugged his 400th home run on September 26, the penultimate day of the season and of his career. Lugo hung it up after 18 years, with the 37-year-old finishing up with exactly 400 roundtrippers, third-most in Texas League history.

Across town, Dallas' Oscar Mondragon posted a 3.29 ERA and made the North Division All-Star team, but lost his rotation spot midseason, and the 42-year-old elected to call it quits after the season, finishing a 17-year career in which he won four Texas League Pitcher of the Year awards and won 280 games.

The Eastern Baseball Federation elected a five-time Pitcher of the Year, plus a former MVP, another three-time Pitcher of the Year, and a smooth centerfielder to the Hall of Fame:

SP Alan Church (1972-86), 97.4%
OF Joe Moore (1965-82), 86.9%
SP Omar Marrero (1971-86), 83.9%
OF Colin Thomas (1964-78), 79.8%

The Texas League also inducted a speedy nine-time All-Star shortstop to the Hall:

SS Dustin Brown (1970-86), 76.7%

---

In the American Baseball League, New Haven surprised everyone by improving by 25 games, winning 99 games and the East, making their first playoff field in a decade. Syracuse, Birmingham, and Nashville took the other three spots, with the Vols making it in at 78-84. In the West, Chicago edged out Phoenix by two games for the top spot, with Minneapolis and Denver taking the last two bids.

The first round had zero drama. New Haven, Chicago, and Minneapolis won their series in four-game sweeps. Syracuse needed five games to win their set. The later rounds were better, as New Haven downed Syracuse and Minneapolis beat Chicago, both in six games. In the finals, the Knights downed the Millers in six games, denying Minneapolis a repeat and giving New Haven their first American Baseball Cup since 1968 and their fifth overall.

For the second-straight year, Syracuse's Justin Haile was East MVP, slashng .267/.368/.426 with 151 hits, an East-high 114 runs, 32 doubles, 14 homers, 79 RBI, and 27 steals. New Haven's Bill Padilla led the Knights turnaround on the mound, going 21-7 with a 2.63 ERA, leading the East in wins and logging 263.2 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year. Though just 24, his career went into steep decline quickly, bottoming out in a league-worst 24 losses just four years later.

The West also saw a repeat MVP, with Minneapolis' Dave Koch slashing .325/.403/.518, all best in the West, also leading the ABL with 197 hits, 118 runs, 49 doubles, and 59 steals, and adding 10 triples, 16 homers, and 83 RBI. On the mound, Phoenix's Jeremy Dacey went 21-11 with a league-best 2.18 ERA, also leading the ABL with 208 strikeouts, 289.0 innings, and five shutouts among his 16 complete games, earning Pitcher of the Year for the first time.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Lexington Thoroughbreds, 90-64, defeats Jackson
Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 82-58, defeats Lowell
River Valley League: Dayton Aviators, 80-60, defeats Erie
Rocky Mountain League: Billings Mustangs, 75-51, defeats Butte
Coastal League: Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks, 88-66, defeats Greenville (SC)
Northern League: Duluth-Superior Dukes, 85-55, defeats La Crosse
Southwest League: Bakersfield Conquistadors, 100-54, defeats Long Beach (2nd straight)
Southern Association: Shreveport Captains, 76-64, defeats Joplin
Northwest League: Reno High Rollers, 89-65, defeats Tacoma
Can-Am League: Portland Lobsters, 68-60, defeats Waterbury
Mid-Atlantic League: Worcester Tornadoes, 78-62, defeats Asheville (2nd straight)
Lone Star League: Laredo Vaqueros, 73-67, defeats San Angelo
Great Plains League: Des Moines Demons, 89-51, defeats Peoria
Florida Coast League: St. Petersburg Saints, 88-52, defeats Huntsville
Big Sky League: Saskatoon Rivermen, 69-63, defeats Edmonton (2nd straight)
Heartland League: Quad Cities Trappers, 81-59, defeats Cedar Rapids
Atlantic Coast League: Wilmington (NC) Waves, 76-44, defeats Petersburg

The Can-Am League had quite a race as five teams finished within three games of first. Waterbury finished first at 68-58, but Portland, London, and Quebec all finished tied for second at 66-60, necessitating a three-team playoff. Portland won games against both of the other two teams, taking second, then beat Waterbury for the league title.

01-14-2025, 02:42 PM	#104
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Seventh Heaven in San Francisco 1992 "New-Look Ballparks Beginning to Dot Landscape" read the headline in the May 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated . "For three decades the standard in stadium construction is a concrete monstrosity that, when applicable, is also built to accommodate professional football, leaving a layout that leaves much to be desired for the baseball tenants who habitually play in front of tens of thousands of unsold seats every night." "Over the last few years the trend has begun to swing back towards stadia that meet the needs of the modern consumer, but also harken back to the ballparks of yore: incorporating brick and exposed steel into their design. More importantly, new stadiums going up will be doing so solely to host baseball, leading to better sightlines, cozier confines, and in many cases, smaller, more-intimate venues." "Buffalo's Pilot Field was the blueprint when it opened in 1988 and Baltimore's Camden Yards which opened last month has taken that concept to a new level with large crowds and rave reviews." "Plenty of other teams are taking notice. Norfolk is playing their final season at Metropolitan Memorial Stadium this season before the waterfront Ballpark at Harbor Yard opens next season. Salt Lake City is in the midst of a tricky project in which the shell of a new stadium is going up around Derks Field as they continue to play there. After the season, Derks will meet the wrecking ball and a new stadium is expected to be close to, if not entirely complete by next opening day." "Likewise, Cleveland, Dallas, and San Jose are expected to open new stadiums in 1994. The woefully dated Dodger Dome in Brooklyn will meet the wrecking ball, as construction on a new ballpark harkening back to their days at Ebbets Field began last fall, with an anticipated opening in 1995. Portland is expected to break ground on a badly-needed new facility next month, with a scheduled 1996 opening." "Even the American Baseball League has already seen a new (though more spartan) stadium open in 1990 for the Chicago Cyclones and a new park in Denver going up to open in 1995, with more projects planned around the league." "What does this mean? Well, for John Q. Taxpayer, it means a little lighter wallet, as taxes are going up in many cities to pay for these majority—if not entirely—taxpayer funded facilities. Some of have protested this development, and reasonably so. But municipalities are recognizing that keeping their franchises will take modern facilities with nine-figure price tags." "As for the new tenants, Baltimore and Buffalo have seen strong attendance gains in their new facilities and the teams expecting new homes are anticipating significantly more fans in the stands, leading to higher revenues—and higher player salaries. Not only that, but many of these venues are being built closer to city centers, with the goal of revitalizing blighted areas left to rot for three decades." "Where will this arms race end? That remains to be seen, but distressed downtown areas, the teams playing in these venues, and the fans attending games there are seeing their benefits. The race is on, but don't expect it to stop anytime soon." The 1992 season saw a resurgence of more dominant teams, with five 100-win teams outside the PCL (and a sixth at 99). Three of them resided in the Northern Conference, including two in New England League. Manhattan and the Philadelphia A's both finished 100-62 to take the two playoff spots there. The Midwest Association, though, had 102-60 Milwaukee, while in their second season back in the majors, Cincinnati improved by 19½ games, winning a one-game playoff with Buffalo to finish second, earning their first major league playoff spot since 1900. In the postseason, Manhattan disposed of Philadelphia in five games. Meanwhile, Cincinnati started off the playoffs with a four-game sweep to upset Milwaukee. The Buckeyes were not done, upsetting the Yankees as well to earn their first-ever Conference Championship. In the Southern Conference, two more tight races transpired. Jacksonville finally broke their string of second-place finishes with 100 wins and an Eastern League pennant. 11 games back, Norfolk and Baltimore tied for second, with the Admirals winning that showdown. In the Western League, three teams finished within two games, with New Orleans winning their fourth-straight pennant (albeit 22 games worse than their 114-win juggernaut from 1991), one game ahead of St. Louis, who also slipped in, and Pittsburgh the odd man out, one game back of the Browns and two behind the Pelicans. In the League Finals, Jacksonville dumped Norfolk in five years, while New Orleans atoned for their postseason failures of last year, defeating St. Louis in seven games. The Pelicans then pummeled the Admirals in five games to win their second Conference Championship in five years. The Pacific Coast League saw San Francisco post a league-best 123-77 record, winning the North by a dozen games over Seattle, who returned to the postseason after a two-year absence. The South was won by San Diego, their record 15th-straight playoff appearance, but Los Angeles notably finished second, recording their first playoff appearance in nine years, their first winning season (108-92) since 1965 and best record since 1950. The two Division Series were both excellent. Favored San Francisco was pushed hard by Seattle, but the Seals came out in front in seven games. The South also went the full seven games, with San Diego edging Los Angeles. The finals were anticlimactic, as the Seals swept the Padres to repeat as PCL champions, their fourth in six years. In the Texas League, Oklahoma City won their second division title in three years with 101 wins, finishing as the only winning team in the North. Wichita finished second at 79-83, edging out Dallas by a game for the second playoff spot. The South also saw a dominant team in 99-win Austin, who won their sixth-straight division crown. Houston nudged out Galveston by three games for second place and a playoff spot. Despite being overwhelming favorites, OKC got all they could handle from Wichita, but in the end, the Indians emerged victorious in seven games. In the South, another seven-game set ensued, but in this one, Houston pulled the upset, as the Buffaloes downed the Wranglers. Houston finished the job as well, upsetting Oklahoma City in the Lone Star Series in five games, their first TL title in 19 seasons. The national tournament saw one first-time participant, whose run came to an end as the New Orleans Pelicans (SOU) defeat the Cincinnati Buckeyes (NOR). Meanwhile, the San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the Houston Buffaloes (TL). The Pelicans were playing for a title for the first time, but they wouldn't get it, as the *San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the New Orleans Pelicans (SOU), 4-2* to win their seventh National Championship, at long last matching Kansas City (who last won in 1947) for most all time. Cincinnati's surprise run to a Northern Conference title was led in large part by 25-year-old shortstop Bob Ortiz. In his fourth season as a Buckeye, Ortiz slashed .312/.370/.457 with 185 hits, 89 runs, 29 doubles, 19 homers, and 108 RBI, earning MVP honors. For the second year in a row, Manhattan righty Freddy Perez took home Pitcher of the Year in the North, going 18-15 with a 2.86 ERA, leading the North with 207 strikeouts over 258.0 innings to earn the hardware. One of the most feared sluggers of the second half of the 80's, New Orleans' Mario Zuniga was still slugging throughout the 90's, slashing .303/.421/.617 with 163 hits, 101 runs, 34 doubles, and leading the South with 45 homers and 144 RBI, earning Southern Conference MVP honors for the third time. Pittsburgh's Ismael Villavicencio had a very strange career. After debuting and posting three very good years as a closer, he moved to the rotation in 1989, where he was one of the best in the league, culminating in a 23-7 record and 2.15 ERA in 1992, leading the South in both marks, while striking out 201 in 267.1 innings and earning Pitcher of the Year. Then for reasons known only to god, Villavicencio immediately moved back to the bullpen and did not start a single game over the final ten years of his career...after winning Pitcher of the Year in his final season as a starter. Somebody had to get fired for that, right? San Franciso's 26-year-old rookie Josh Jones took the Pacific Coast League by storm in his debut season, slashing .340/.481/.498, winning the PCL batting title, leading the league in OBP, slashed 218 hits, scored a league-high 144 runs, stroked 55 doubles, 13 triples, 7 homers, and drove in 106 runs, while stealing 47 bases, earning MVP and Rookie of the Year honors. Jones had two more excellent full seasons before injuries began wrecking his career, including a stunning six-straight seasons where he failed to appear in even 90 games solely due to ailments. Los Angeles' best season in decades was also led by a rookie phenom. 23-year-old Jamie Davis went 19-8 with a PCL-best 2.25 ERA, also leading the league in starts (43) and striking out 206 over 316.0 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year, though like Jones, injuries would also begin racking up quickly and he was effectively done as an effective big-leaguer at 28. Despite turning just 36 mid-season and logging a 3.55 ERA in 187.2 innings, Seattle's Jamie Evans elected to retire, pitching just 12 years, but winning five Pitcher of the Year trophies and winning nearly 250 games in his stellar career. After two seasons in Newark, Oklahoma City flipped a back-end starter to the Eagles for All-Star second baseman Donovan Sabo. A deal that seemed lopsided right away indeed was, as Sabo slashed .301/.382/.525 in his first year in OKC, with 175 hits, a Texas League-high 110 runs, 43 doubles, 6 triples, 25 homers, and 104 RBI, earning TL MVP honors. After spending his first two big-league seasons in the bullpen, 23-year-old Derek Markle moved into the rotation and excelled right away. He went 22-6 with a 2.47 ERA, leading the TL in both marks while logging 237.0 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year honors. Ft. Worth's Ramon Lugo slugged his 400th home run on September 26, the penultimate day of the season and of his career. Lugo hung it up after 18 years, with the 37-year-old finishing up with exactly 400 roundtrippers, third-most in Texas League history. Across town, Dallas' Oscar Mondragon posted a 3.29 ERA and made the North Division All-Star team, but lost his rotation spot midseason, and the 42-year-old elected to call it quits after the season, finishing a 17-year career in which he won four Texas League Pitcher of the Year awards and won 280 games. The Eastern Baseball Federation elected a five-time Pitcher of the Year, plus a former MVP, another three-time Pitcher of the Year, and a smooth centerfielder to the Hall of Fame: SP Alan Church (1972-86), 97.4% OF Joe Moore (1965-82), 86.9% SP Omar Marrero (1971-86), 83.9% OF Colin Thomas (1964-78), 79.8% The Texas League also inducted a speedy nine-time All-Star shortstop to the Hall: SS Dustin Brown (1970-86), 76.7% --- In the American Baseball League, New Haven surprised everyone by improving by 25 games, winning 99 games and the East, making their first playoff field in a decade. Syracuse, Birmingham, and Nashville took the other three spots, with the Vols making it in at 78-84. In the West, Chicago edged out Phoenix by two games for the top spot, with Minneapolis and Denver taking the last two bids. The first round had zero drama. New Haven, Chicago, and Minneapolis won their series in four-game sweeps. Syracuse needed five games to win their set. The later rounds were better, as New Haven downed Syracuse and Minneapolis beat Chicago, both in six games. In the finals, the Knights downed the Millers in six games, denying Minneapolis a repeat and giving New Haven their first American Baseball Cup since 1968 and their fifth overall. For the second-straight year, Syracuse's Justin Haile was East MVP, slashng .267/.368/.426 with 151 hits, an East-high 114 runs, 32 doubles, 14 homers, 79 RBI, and 27 steals. New Haven's Bill Padilla led the Knights turnaround on the mound, going 21-7 with a 2.63 ERA, leading the East in wins and logging 263.2 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year. Though just 24, his career went into steep decline quickly, bottoming out in a league-worst 24 losses just four years later. The West also saw a repeat MVP, with Minneapolis' Dave Koch slashing .325/.403/.518, all best in the West, also leading the ABL with 197 hits, 118 runs, 49 doubles, and 59 steals, and adding 10 triples, 16 homers, and 83 RBI. On the mound, Phoenix's Jeremy Dacey went 21-11 with a league-best 2.18 ERA, also leading the ABL with 208 strikeouts, 289.0 innings, and five shutouts among his 16 complete games, earning Pitcher of the Year for the first time. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Lexington Thoroughbreds, 90-64, defeats Jackson Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 82-58, defeats Lowell River Valley League: Dayton Aviators, 80-60, defeats Erie Rocky Mountain League: Billings Mustangs, 75-51, defeats Butte Coastal League: Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks, 88-66, defeats Greenville (SC) Northern League: Duluth-Superior Dukes, 85-55, defeats La Crosse Southwest League: Bakersfield Conquistadors, 100-54, defeats Long Beach (2nd straight) Southern Association: Shreveport Captains, 76-64, defeats Joplin Northwest League: Reno High Rollers, 89-65, defeats Tacoma Can-Am League: Portland Lobsters, 68-60, defeats Waterbury Mid-Atlantic League: Worcester Tornadoes, 78-62, defeats Asheville (2nd straight) Lone Star League: Laredo Vaqueros, 73-67, defeats San Angelo Great Plains League: Des Moines Demons, 89-51, defeats Peoria Florida Coast League: St. Petersburg Saints, 88-52, defeats Huntsville Big Sky League: Saskatoon Rivermen, 69-63, defeats Edmonton (2nd straight) Heartland League: Quad Cities Trappers, 81-59, defeats Cedar Rapids Atlantic Coast League: Wilmington (NC) Waves, 76-44, defeats Petersburg The Can-Am League had quite a race as five teams finished within three games of first. Waterbury finished first at 68-58, but Portland, London, and Quebec all finished tied for second at 66-60, necessitating a three-team playoff. Portland won games against both of the other two teams, taking second, then beat Waterbury for the league title. Last edited by KCRoyals15; 01-14-2025 at 02:46 PM.