[Jazzmosis]

Well, after the initial season completed, each division saw the playoff picture go down to the final two games, which the exception of one division - the Ontario.

After stumbling out of the gate, London made a late season surge and tied Kitchener for the division on the final day, forcing a one game playoff - a fantastic beginning for a new league that was looking to attract new fans. The strong road warriors from Kitchener matched well against London, who marched out the number 1 overall pick in the league draft, Cedric Cedeno - a fireballer that lead the league in K's. After jumping out to an early 5-1 lead, London looked to cruise into the playoffs - but Kitchener came alive in the late innings and made it a one-run game before the setup man Esteban Guzman managed to get the final out and send London into a first round matchup against Erie's winner, Toledo.

In the Northwest league, Grand Rapids played solid ball all year and took the Huron division by two games, lead in large part by strong pitching by two innings-eaters, George Ivie and Jame Lampe, the top two IP guys in the league - and with Lampe's devastating changeup, his 247 K's lead both leagues. The Superior and Michigan division had Minnesota's only team, the underdog Duluth overcome a horrible first two months that saw them in last and 8 games out and finish tied with Grand Rapids for the best record of the GLL at 62-48. They match well against any opponent, with the best pitching in the league and a very balanced offense.

Round 1 (Lake Series) breakdown:
Duluth vs Grand Rapids

Duluth: 62-48

Batting AVG: .242 (17th)
Homeruns: 123 (6th)
Walks: 331 (4th)
Stolen Bases: 85 (5th)
Runs Scored: 502 (4th)

Pitching ERA: 3.55 (2nd)
Opponents AVG: .234 (3rd)
HRs Allowed: 108 (4th)
Walks Allowed: 282 (2nd)
Runs Allowed: 449 (5th)

Difference Maker: SP Manuel Depaz, 14-5 record, 2.16 ERA, 166 IP, 147 K, 1.01 WHIP and undisputed ace of the team.

Grand Rapids: 62-48

Batting AVG: .245 (15th)
Homeruns: 112 (13th)
Walks: 267 (20th)
Stolen Bases: 86 (3rd)
Runs Scored: 460 (16th)

Pitching ERA: 3.63 (4th)
Opponents AVG: .230 (1st)
HRs Allowed: 98 (2nd)
Walks Allowed: 293 (T-6th)
Runs Allowed: 417 (1st)

Difference maker: SP James Lampe, 14-9 record, 2.80 ERA, 170.1 IP, 247Ks, 0.95 ERA

London vs. Toledo

London: 60-51 (1 game playoff)

Batting AVG: .249 (11th)
Homeruns: 123 (T-6th)
Walks: 268 (19th)
Stolen Bases: 84 (7th)
Runs Scored: 500 (T-6th)

Pitching ERA: 4.02 (11th)
Opponents AVG: .240 (4th)
HRs Allowed: 120 (T-13th)
Walks Allowed: 375 (20th)
Runs Allowed: 488 (10th)

Difference maker: RF Don Carroll, .275 average, .343 OBP, 41 SBs, 91% success rate in SBs.

Toledo: 58-52

Batting AVG: .253 (7th)
Homeruns: 102 (18th)
Walks: 352 (3rd)
Stolen Bases: 104 (2nd)
Runs Scored: 501 (5th)

Pitching ERA: 4.09 (14th)
Opponents AVG: .254 (14th)
HRs Allowed: 106 (3rd)
Walks Allowed: 304 (9th)
Runs Allowed: 499 (14th)

Difference maker: SS Brian Jimerson, .326 average, .435 OBP, .971 OPS. 64BBs in 328 ABs.

For this playoffs I'll be running Duluth. They were the very last team I added to the league and I was secretly hoping they'd make it - primarily because before I created this league I didn't even know Duluth existed. I was very tempted to take control of London since that's my home town, but I'd feel too much like a homer. So in the Lake series, a best of 7 playoff, we'll see if I've got the playoff clutch.