Playoff Preview

SLAMMERS GEAR UP FOR PLAYOFFS, HOST CORTLAND'S GARAGE

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - The Oakton Slammers will will face Cortland's Garage for the third time this season in the opening game of the 2024 Playoffs. The game has a first pitch set at 6:30pm.

Cortland's Garage has become a familiar foe for the Slammers, as this will be the third matchup between the two teams in the last four weeks. The Slammers have already secured the season series by winning the first two games, but want the sweep.

"It would mean the world to our team," catcher Nels Flink said.

Cortland's Garage enters the playoffs on an eight game losing streak after winning their first two games of the season. Two of those defeats came to the Slammers, who are one of the hottest teams in the league, going 2-1 over the last three weeks and 3-3 in the last six.

In the first matchup, the Slammers won a defensive showdown 7-2. Last week, the outcome was completely different. They were down 6-0 after the top of the first inning, and faced deficits of 9-3, 14-7, and even 17-11 entering the bottom of the seventh inning.

"Most would have thought the game was over at that point but noooo!" manager Nick Sobieszczyk exclaimed, pumped up about what happened in that inning.

Sobie hit a two-run home run to cut the lead to four. Then, the Slammers played small-ball to chip away. Catcher Vince Nardiello hit a dribbler with the bases loaded and two outs. Hustling down the line, he beat the throw and the game was tied.

In the extra frame, the Slammers found themselves down again, until Sobie ripped a double to center field, driving in two runs in walk-off fashion.

"That might have been the most chaotic game in Slammers' history," said Sobieszczyk.

Now, the Slammers play host once again, but this time in a win-or-go-home playoff game. The winner of the game will have a double header, facing the #1 seed undefeated Dirty Mike and the Boys at 7:30pm. The Slammers lost to Dirty Mike and the Boys 6-3 in Week 2 of the regular season.

AN UNLIKELY MONEY MAN: Jeff Beckert, who began the season with the Summer League Moline River Rats, has made the most of his time on the Slammers. This past week, he played an outstanding game, earning him Money Man of the Game honors. He went 3-4 with a walk, was a triple shy of the cycle, and scored the game-winning run in the 8th inning. He also played solid defense, growing in confidence so much that he decided to eat a cup of Dippin' Dots while playing third base.

When asked about trolls on Instagram, he said, "I just keep my head down and do my thing. I know what I'm capable of."

WITH A WIN: Cortland's Garage would advance to 3-8 and match them up against Dirty Mike and the Boys, against whom they lost 15-11 in Week 8 of the regular season.

The Slammers would advance to 4-7, earning their seventh win in franchise history, and their first ever playoff win. They would sweep Cortland's Garage in the season series, and it would maintain their above-.500 win percentage against the franchise (3-1 overall). It would be the first time ever the team won four games in a season, and their highest win percentage of all time (.364).

LUAU NIGHT: The Slammers invite all fans to participate in Luau Night by wearing a Hawaiian shirt to tonight's game. 

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