Regardless of whether they win or lose their playoff series this weekend in Victoria, the will be in mix for the 2018 championship.
As the host team, the A91裸聊视频檚 have an automatic berth into the season-ending tournament, Aug. 3 to 5 at Elks Stadium.
Still, head coach Evan Bailey said the Athletics would prefer to earn their way into provincials, as opposed to backing in and adding an extra variable to the mix.
91裸聊视频淚f we lose, a fifth team would get in, instead of having four, and that91裸聊视频檚 not what you want,91裸聊视频� said Bailey. 91裸聊视频淲e want to win and be playing well heading into the last weekend.91裸聊视频�
The A91裸聊视频檚 and Mariners will meet in a best-of-three first round series, with Games 1 and 2 set for Saturday in Victoria. Game 3, if needed, would go on Sunday morning.
91裸聊视频淣o matter who you play, you91裸聊视频檙e going to have to play well to get out of the first round,91裸聊视频� Bailey said. 91裸聊视频淚n these three-game series, it91裸聊视频檚 often a matter of what you can do in a six-hour span.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 whoever is the best team that day, so there91裸聊视频檚 minimal room for error,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淵ou can throw everything that happened before out the door.91裸聊视频�
With nine wins in their last 10 games, no team finished the PBL regular season on a bigger upswing than the Athletics (30-18.)
In fact, no PBL club was better over the final 2 1/2 months of the regular season. After stumbling out to a 5-12 start, the A91裸聊视频檚 hit their stride, ripping off a 25-6 record to finish out the campaign.
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Based largely on the depth their pitching staff91裸聊视频攏ot to mention having a solid offensive and defensive game91裸聊视频擝ailey said the 2018 version of the A91裸聊视频檚 is among the most capable teams he91裸聊视频檚 coached.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been playing really good baseball down the stretch and that91裸聊视频檚 what want, to be peaking going into the playoffs,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e feel like we have a really good chance. We91裸聊视频檙e deeper on the mound than in past years, and our veteran leadership is really solid.91裸聊视频�
The A91裸聊视频檚 finished off the PBL regular season last weekend, taking three of four from the North Shore Twins (31-17) at Elks Stadium.
In Saturday91裸聊视频檚 opener, Jackson Borne had three hits and two RBIs in a 4-3 Okanagan win. Adam Sarafinchin picked up the win in relief.
In Game 2, the Twins rebounded with a 12-5 win.
On Sunday morning, Sarafinchin singled home Marcus Strother with the winning run in the eighth inning as the A91裸聊视频檚 prevailed 3-2.
In the series finale, Cole Van Every delivered two hits and three RBIs in a 5-2 A91裸聊视频檚 victory. Sarafinchin (5-2) earned his second win of the weekend, once again in a relief role.
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