Expos Surging

The Elkhorn Expos have turned their season around with a 4-game winning streak, and have thrown themsleves right into the middle of the playoff race.  After starting the season 1-8, the Expos knocked off the Wawanesa Brewers (2-9) and the Reston Rockets (5-7), then beat two division leaders in the Rivers Comets (9-3) and the Boissevain Centennials (7-3).  The charge has been led by Colby Walker, who's .545 average leads the league.  Walker has gone 11-for-16 with 5 RBI over the win streak, which has been a microcosm of the entire team.  Over their win streak, the Expos have hit .349 as a unit, way up from their .268 average in the previous 9 games.  The production on the mound has also been key, receiving back-to-back-to-back complete-game victories from Tyler Wood (1-2, 7.00), Shawn Bowles (1-3, 4.89) and Bradley Bowles (2-2, 2.90).

Elkhorn has put themselves in postion to fight for the playoffs, both in the North Division and the crossover spot.  It will be a battle right to the finish line as the Expos (5-8), Rockets (5-7), and Virden Oilers (5-7) all battle for 4th and final playoff spot in the North.  There is a possibility that two teams from the above group will make it into the post-season if they can finish with a better winning percentage than the 4th place team in the South (currently the Hartney Hoppers at 4-9).  Should this occur, a 1-game playoff between the 5th place team in the North and 4th place team in the South would take place to determine the final seed in the South Division.

Some teams already know they are playoff bound.  Despite dropping their last two games, the Boissevain Centennials still hold a two-game lead in the South Division and look poised to wrap it up for the fifth consecutive season.  The Deloraine Royals (6-6) have also clinched a playoff spot while Souris (4-7), Hartney (4-9) and Wawanesa (2-9) are all still alive for the final two spots.

In the North there is a deadlock at the top between the Hamiota Red Sox and Rivers Comets, both sitting at 10-3.  Rivers, however, holds the tie-breaker after sweeping the Red Sox in the season series 2-0.  The Oak River Dodgers have clinched at least a tie-breaker game and will finish at least 3rd in the North with one more victory.  As stated before, the final spot will be filled with Virden, Reston or Elkhorn.  Wednesday, July 3rd will go a long way to deciding who gets in, as Reston hosts Hamiota that day and the Expos travel to Virden to take on the Oilers.