7.25 Game Preview

SLAMMERS CLASH WITH CORTLAND'S GARAGE WITH PLAYOFF SEEDING ON THE LINE

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - The Oakton Slammers will will face Cortland's Garage for the second time this season and their final game of the regular season. With the playoff seeding to be finalized by this game, first pitch is scheduled for the latest spot at 9:40pm.

The game comes just two weeks after the Slammers played one of their best games ever in defeating Cortland's Garage 7-2. Now, they have a chance to secure advantage in the postseason with a season sweep.

"This has always been the vision for us: to play meaningful softball games late in July," General Manager Mike Leahy said.

The winner of the game will see a boost in seeding for the postseason, and holds their fate in their own hands. CG has a double-header on schedule, with their first game against WTP, who are tied for second in the league standings after narrowly beating the Slammers last week, 3-2.

"We were so close, but you can really see the improvement in our players from earlier in the season," said Jimmy Latal, the Director of Player Development. The Slammers lost their first game against WTP 17-1.

Now, the outcome of the regular season comes down to this. Whichever team wins the game will wrap up, at the very least, homefield advantage in the 8 vs. 9 game to open the playoffs. With a loss by the Fatletes, the winner would move up to the 7 seed.

"Every game is a must-win in our eyes from here on out. Whoever the opponent is, we have to find a way to beat them," manager Nick Sobieszczyk stated in his final regular season press conference.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE CONTINUES: The Slammers have relied on their defense this season to keep them in games, and that has been most evident the past two weeks. The Slammers have allowed just five combined runs over the last two games, a mark that ranks best in the league.

With one game left in the regular season, the Slammers are on track for their best defensive season, with fewest runs allowed and best run differential in franchise history. Additionally, the team can hold opponents to less than 100 runs scored against in a season for the first time by allowing five or fewer runs to CG on Thursday. There are currently four teams in the league that have allowed at least 105 runs to opponents this season.

WITH A WIN: Cortland's Garage would advance to either 3-7 or 4-6 (depending on the outcome of their game against WTP at 8:40pm). The 3-7 mark would guarantee them the 7th seed in the playoffs, while a 4-6 mark would put them right in the middle of the pack, and their seeding would depend on tiebreakers. They would also avoid a season sweep against the Slammers.

The Slammers would advance to 3-7, earning their sixth win in franchise history. They would sweep Cortland's Garage in the season series, and it would be the first time in franchise history that the team had an overall winning record against another team (2-1 overall). The team would secure at least the 8th seed in the playoffs, and would move to the 7th seed with a Foul, No Catch win over the Fatletes. It would be the first time the Slammers won three games in a season in franchise history. It would also mark the second season in a row that the Slammers did not finish in last place.

BAND SHIRT NIGHT: The Slammers invite all fans to participate in Band Shirt Night by wearing a shirt from their favorite band, a recent concert, or your classic Nirvana gear found at the local Target or Urban Outfitters to tonight's game. 

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