Only Four Remain: LCS' Weekend Arrives with Trip to World Series on the Line

With the month of July and Hometown Days coming to a close, all eyes shifted to the ORWBL Postseason as 8 teams continued their quest for a World Series title. After picking up series' wins in the Wild Card Round, we saw the Bombers, Magic, Panthers, and Billy Goats seasons come to an end.

Lakeport put together a fantastic 2nd year in the league highlighted by the emergence of Brody Traxler but their season came to an end after dropping the winner take all Game 3 to Mill Pond on the road. Meanwhile, Maple City's hopes of returning to the World Series were dashed as BFAM was able to send the Magic home via a couple of close ballgames.

Moving over to the National League side we saw the New Carlisle Newts take down the Granger Panthers for the 2nd consecutive year in the Postseason as New Carlisle returns to the NLCS once again. Meanwhile, it was the Glen Lee Skeeters who took down the higher seeded Twin Branch Billy Goats as the Skeeters will look to win the National League Pennant for the first time!

LCS' weekend is now here as we have two new teams making their debut's in the League Championship Series. Starting off in the American League, it will be the top seeded Elkhart BFAM taking on the 2nd seeded Mill Pond Pink Pandas. These two teams met up way back in Week 2 as BFAM took 2 out of 3 in what was a highly competitive series.

The Elkhart BFAM franchise returns to LCS weekend, this time on the other side as a member of the American League. BFAM originally came into ORWBL on the National League side and they actually won the 2020 Pennant before falling short to the Maple City Magic. They will now look to win their first AL Pennant where they aim to return to the World Series for a 2nd time in franchise history.

While BFAM is looking to get back to the World Series for a 2nd time, guys on the squad like Walter Griffin III, Brandon Terry, Josh Trim, and Ryan Galiher are looking to return for a 3rd straight year as they helped lead the South Bend Truffle Butter to Back to Back ORWBL World Series titles in 2022 and 2023.

On the other side of things, the Mill Pond Pink Pandas will be making their ALCS debut as this young team continues to break through as serious World Series contenders. It will be a special day on Saturday in Mill Pond as the Pink Pandas will host BFAM for Games 1 & 2 of the ALCS before the series shifts to The Lot on Sunday.

It will be the first time that League Championship Series' games will be played at the beautiful ballpark and Mill Pond knows how great of an opportunity it is. When asked about how Mill Pond was feeling and what the keys to taking down BFAM will be, Pandas star Zach Christy had the following to say: "We're feeling good, the vibes are immaculate. I think everyone is super pumped and excited. I know we're not ready for the season to be over that's for sure. I think the keys to taking down BFAM are we're gonna have to hit with them obviously but most importantly defense. We are going to have to be nearly perfect in the field, can't give them outs. In the past Clayten has been their kryptonite, so I'm confident having him on the mound. I also believe taking the first two at our place would be huge. Would give us some momentum heading into hostile territory on Sunday."

As mentioned, the first 2 games of the ALCS will indeed be played at Walter Metts Field as both teams were able to come to an agreement to split the ALCS into 2 days on Saturday and Sunday. When asked about what the keys to victory against a young and hungry Mill Pond team, the 2x MVP winner Brandon Terry had the following to say: "I feel confident in my team and what we've been able to do so far this season, but at the end of the day both teams are here for a reason, cause they earned it. Just have to take it one game at a time and just give it our all and let everything take care of itself. It'll be a good matchup against a young hungry team, but we are hungry too!"

After winning the 2023 ORWBL Championship with the Truffle Butter, the 2023 Worlds Title with Clutch Players and the 2024 Hometown Cup with The Woo Crew all in the past year, Terry & Co. are still hungry for more as this ALCS matchup is not one to miss.

Moving over to the National League side, we will see the entire National League Championship Series played on Sunday at The Marsh as the Newts will serve as the Home team for Games 1 & 2 before Glen Lee is the Home team the rest of the series. The Newts have returned to the National League Championship Series for a 2nd consecutive year as Koby Keck has done a great job re establishing New Carlisle as legitimate World Series contenders year in and year out.

After falling short in 7 games last year, New Carlisle would love nothing more than another chance at bringing the World Series trophy back to New Carlisle for a 4th time. They head into the series as the favorites in many eyes considering their established history and experience in big time games. When asked what the keys to taking down Glen Lee would be, Aidan Cotter of the Newts kept it simple: "Key to victory is Noah Shail showing up on time."

The Newts PR Department has made it well known how Noah Shail has been the key to this team's success in 2024. Much more than past years this teams success has really depended on Shail being there as he has truly been a difference maker for this team. While the Newts have a loaded roster of talent, Shail will certainly be the key to victory as the Newts look to return to the World Series.

On the other side of things, we have the Glen Lee Skeeters who will be playing in the National League Championship Series for the first time in team history. Like Mill Pond, this is a young up and coming squad that has just been getting better and better with every season that goes by. It is no coincidence that these two teams have made it this far as we are starting to see a shift with our next generation of wifflers. The Skeeters have notably had their success against New Carlisle as they eliminated the Newts in the Playoffs in 2021 and 2022. These two teams will now meet back up with a trip to the ORWBL World Series on the line.

National League Triple Crown Winner Kade Stone has taken his play to another level this season as this is a big moment for he and the rest of the Skeeters to cement themselves as National League Champions and earn the right to play in the 2024 World Series. With the entire series being played at The Marsh, Glen Lee is the place to be on Sunday!