Post-season begins tonight

August 25, 2021

Regular season play for teams in the North Dufferin Baseball League wrapped up on Monday night. A quick turn-around and the playoffs start tonight with four teams in action.

The 11-team senior loop played an abbreviated ten-game season this year starting in mid July due to the timelines set by the provincial government in allowing league play amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tight timelines and competitive play during the season produced a string of ties in final points resulting in head-to-head records being used as tie breakers to decide positions in the standings.

Bolton Brewers (8-2) and New Lowell Knights (8-2) topped the league with 16 points. The Brewers took first place with their win against the Knights.

Creemore Padres (6-3-1) placed third with 13 points. The Barrie Angels (5-4-1) finished with 11 points and their win over the same win/loss/tie record Clearview Orioles (5-4-1) allowed them to sit in fourth place above Clearview in fifth.

The Midland Mariners (5-5) finished sixth with ten points while the Ivy Leafs (5-5) held the same record but lost to Midland in the season to sit seventh. Mansfield Cubs (4-6) round out the playoff bound teams in eighth place with their eight points.

Three teams out of postseason contention are the Clarksburg Blues (3-6-1) who finished with seven points, the Lisle Astros (3-7) with six points and the Bolton Dodgers (1-9) with two points.

Now begins the quest for the Strother Cup in three rounds of playoffs. The first and second round will be a best of three series or the first team to garner four points. The final series starting September 18 will be a three out of five affair.

The Brewers and Cubs begin their series Thursday night (Aug. 26) as will the Knights and Leafs.

Two series open tonight (Aug. 25) when Midland travels to Creemore and Barrie takes on Clearview.