Here are five things to know as the Champion City Kings finish the regular season:
1. Home, sweet, home: Champion City closes its home schedule against Butler tonight at Carleton Davidson Stadium. Game time is 7:05.
A win could help the Kings clinch another home game, this one coming in the playoffs. Champion City held a slim lead heading into Thursday’s late game, with three more to play.
The Kings entered Thursday night’s game carrying plenty of momentum, winning eight of their last 10 games.
2. Playoff push: Champion City entered Thursday's play leading the East Division standings, holding a half-game lead over the Kokomo Jackrabbits.
West Virginia won the first-half title and clinched a playoff spot. Butler, Lafayette and Chillicothe have been eliminated from playoff contention, leaving the Kings and Jackrabbits to battle it out.
A playoff appearance would be the first for the Kings in three seasons of existence.
3. Rounding third … : After Friday night, Champion City (26-30 overall) travels to Butler (25-31) for a doubleheader on Saturday. Game times are 5:05 p.m. and 7:05. The doubleheader became necessary when the teams were rained out July 24.
As for Kokomo (30-27), the Jackrabbits finish the regular season at Danville (34-23) today and hosting Lafayette (28-29) on Saturday.
4. Playoff scenario: Here's the rundown if the Kings clinch a playoff spot:
Both the East Division and West Division championship series start Sunday. The second-half winners host the first-half winners in the best-of-three series. So if Champion City wins the East the Kings will host West Virginia on Sunday. The series then shifts to West Virginia on Monday and Tuesday (if necessary).
Over in the West Division, Quincy clinched the first-half title. Springfield, Terre Haute and Danville were all alive in the playoff chase entering Thursday’s late action.
The Prospect League Championship Series is Aug. 11-14. The East Division champion hosts the first game and the West the final two in the best-of-three finale.
5. League leaders: The Kings are also battling for individual Prospect League bragging rights.
Andrew McDonald (Virginia Tech) ranks second in strikeouts with 59. Andy Fisher (Eastern Illinois) is fifth with 53.
Danny Sexton (Wright State) is second in the league with a 1.59 ERA and Fisher is third with 1.71.
Offensively, Lee Sponseller (Dominican University) is fourth in batting average (.319).
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