March 28, 1954
Not Done Yet: Both Leagues Need Tiebreakers to Settle Standings
For the first time in United Leagues history, both the Eastern and Western Leagues will need tiebreaker games to finalize the playoff picture. With extremely tight races all season long in both Leagues, it was really no surprise that extra games would be needed to settle things.
In the East, the Stratford Barons quickly regained first place after temporarily losing it back on the 14th. They managed to open up a 2-game lead and eventually a 3-game lead on the Braeland City Monarchs and held on until they locked up top spot on March 26th with two games remaining. As for the Monarchs, they held a 4-game lead on the Cobourg Red Stockings as late as the 16th, but faltered the rest of the way, going 4-7. That included dropping two of three to the Red Stockings and three of four to the Barons in their final series. Cobourg, meanwhile, went 8-3 in that same stretch, concluding with an 11-2 win over the Embro Suns on the last day to put them in a tie for the wild card. That forced a winner-take-all tiebreaker to see who will face the Barons for the Eastern League Pennant.
In the West, the two playoff contenders have been decided. But who will finish in first place and who will settle for the wild card remains to be decided, as the Pulberry Trolleys and Fort Richmond Generals finished in a tie for top spot. In a tight 4-way race, the Trolleys and Generals eventually emerged as the top two teams. Pulberry locked up their first playoff appearance in franchise history on the 27th, thanks to a 4-game winning streak. But losing their last two games of the season to the Hespeler Stars allowed the Generals to pull into a tie with the Trolleys on the last day of the season. Taking three of four from the Kingston Pelicans in their final series, Fort Richmond secured their 5th playoff appearance and first in three seasons.
Both tie-breaker games are scheduled for Monday, March 29th. The Braeland City Monarchs will host the Cobourg Red Stockings at Kings Park. The Monarchs are expected to prevail upon their No. 1 starter, 33-year old RHP
Okura Suzuki (11-5, 4.12 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 103 ERA+). Cobourg will be looking to their ace, 25-year old
Bill Budd (19-9, 3.69 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 114 ERA+), to lead the charge.
Over in the West, Trolleys Stadium will be the focus as Pulberry will be hosting the Fort Richmond Generals. Their No. 1 starter, 32-year old RHP
Alexander Ellacott (15-7, 3.88 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 106 ERA+) is expected to take the hill, while Fort Richmond will respond with their No. 3 starter, 31-year old RHP
Ch’ang-chieh Li (10-16, 4.24 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 97 ERA+).
The first pitch for both games is scheduled for just after 3:00 am, for those listening in along the North American Eastern seaboard. 😉
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