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Pennant Fever
International League headed down to the wire with all three division races within 1.5 games.

08.09.02 - With a little over three weeks left in the 2002 International League season, pennant races in all three Divisions are incredibly tight as no front-running club has more than a 1.5 game lead over its second place pursuer.

Following Thursday night’s games, the IL South Division has a pair of co-leaders as the Richmond Braves defeated Charlotte last night to tie the Durham Bulls atop the Division. The two co-leaders battle this weekend in what should be an exciting series.

The Toledo Mud Hens, who defeated Durham last night and are looking for their first Governors’ Cup Playoff berth since 1984, hold a 1.5 game advantage over the defending League Champion Louisville Bats in the West Division.

In the six-team North Division, where the contending Buffalo Bisons and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons have squared off six times in the last nine days, the Red Barons also hold a 1.5 game edge.

The non-division winning club with the highest winning percentage will claim the circuit’s fourth playoff position as a Wild Card.

Buffalo has a comfortable lead in this race, with a 5.5 game lead over Louisville. Durham, Ottawa, and Richmond comprise a group of challengers all 7.0 games back.

The International League’s 70th Annual Governors’ Cup Playoffs will begin on September 4th in the home ballparks of the West Division Champion and the Wild Card Club.

In the IL’s predetermined format, the Wild Card Club will face the North Division Winner while the South Champion will face the West Division Champ in a best-of-five First Round Series.

Following a pair of games hosted by the Wild Card and West Division Winning clubs, the series will shift to the opponents’ stadiums for the final three games as necessary.

The survivors of these two battles will advance to the best-of-five Governors’ Cup Championship Series to begin on September 10 in the city of either the Wild Card/North Series Winner.

After two games, the series will resume at the home of the West or South Division Champion on September 12 for the final three games as necessary.