#2 Concord Radstags (59-49) vs #3 County Crossing Bloodbugs (59-50)
Season Series: Concord 5, County Crossing 3
April 4-5 @Con: Con 5-4, Con 9-3
May 7-8 @CC: Con 4-1, Con 7-4
June 18-19 @Con:CC 6-3, CC 4-0
July 16-17 @CC: Con 8-2, CC 6-5
Concord Home Page
County Crossing Home Page
Game 1 Matchup
Analysis
Fun fact: Neither team has ever won a playoff series. Of course, these two teams have combined to play a total of two playoff games in their histories, with the Radstags getting swept by The Slog in the Play-in Series in 2300. This season, Concord moves up to the #2 spot, while County Crossing makes its playoffs premier in the #3 spot. The winner gets to face a veteran playoffs team in the NCA Championship Series between either Nordhagen Beach or Fort Hagen.
The Radstags were not the best offensive team, finishing 6th in the NCA in runs scored (506), but helped their cause by being 3rd in runs allowed (474). One offensive player who did do his job throughout the season was potential MVP, LF Dan Erb (.339/26/90). While he was the only full-time player to hit over .300 on the team, Concord did show a lot of pop in the bats, finishing 2nd in home runs (117). 1B Kyle Boohoo (.245/21/71) and 2B Josh McIntyre (.227/20/62) helped that cause, and the Stags got some other support on offense from CF Pockets Aintfull (.280/2/38/33 SB) and RF Gene Leftswipe (.247/8/44/44 SB). Pitching was dominated by the bullpen with the top ERA (2.36) in the NCA. CL Freedom Williams (29 SV, 1.66) is the leader of that group with one-time closer Aaron Still (3-1, 0.94) offering setup support. The starters were not as good, finishing 8th in ERA (4.64). SP Emperry Alizm (12-10, 3.66) had the most success. Ace Chris Radsco (11-14, 4.34) and 3rd SP Phil Cecil (10-6, 4.75) struggled a bit more from the mound.
County Crossing will challenge the Radstags in the opposite direction. The Bloodbugs were tops in the NCA in offensive production, including runs scored (566), AVG (.287), OBP (.361), OPS (.789), and wOBA (.344). They are not a powerful or fast team, though, so it is important for them to get a stream of hits. Leading the offensive charge was RF Babs Rooth (.312/23/77). The former Concord 1st-round pick is looking to be a star in the league and make the Stags pay for trading for all of the good bullpen pitchers last season. C Biter Trout (.366/4/57) is an established star who led the NCA in batting average. 1B Ajani Peacock (.334/8/51) and 3B Taygun Topaloglu (.318/13/72) also rack up a lot of hits. Pitching is another story, especially after trading away their four best relievers last season for Rooth. The Bugs are 9th in runs allowed (511) with the 4th-best Starters ERA (4.38) and 11th Bullpen ERA (4.09). The top two pitchers for County Crossing, Ace Gavin Eviritts (14-8, 3.31) and SP Whip Lashley (15-7, 4.16) can get the job done each time out. Once they get to the bullpen, though, the Bugs' best best is CL William Whitehurst (30 SV, 2.81). Usual 4th starter, Aimer Doghair (6-6, 4.37) is going to have to be caps in the playoffs.
Prediction
This is the series we struggled the most with. While Concord holds the season series, the Bloodbugs have been the hotter late-season team. We're going to hold onto the hotness of the Bugs and pick them to take the series over the Radstags, 3 games to 2.