Staff
Following the completion of regular-season action last night, the opening-round playoffs matches now are set for the Rainy River District Fastball League.
The top four teams all earned first-round byes, with the Big Grassy Braves holding home-field advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to their league-best 14-3 record during the regular season.
Beef’s Warriors jumped into second place in the standings after a 13-6 win over the Braves last night in a make-up game from a postponed contest earlier this month.
The Barwick Blue Knights and Rainy River Royals finished third and fourth, respectively, and also will sit out the first round.
The two-time defending champion Sight & Sound Wolves face the long route if they hope to earn a “three-peat.”
The sixth-place Wolves face the 11th-ranked Sabaskong Cubs at VanJura here on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to face the Blue Knights in Barwick on Thursday.
Also Tuesday, the fifth-place Stratton Eagles will host the 12th-ranked Sabaskong Lakers, with that winner going up against Rainy River on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the seventh-place Big Island Huskies will take on the 10th-seeded Manitou Thunderbirds, with a Thursday date against Beef’s Warriors awaiting the victor.
Finally, the eighth-ranked Couchiching Raiders and ninth-place Northwest Bay Chieftains will battle it out Tuesday for the chance to take on the Braves next.
First-round losers will remain in contention under the RRDFL’s double-knockout playoff format.
