One month ago today, the Monarchs were in a must-win series against St. Clair to overtake the lead for the North.

Since sweeping that home series over the Green Giants, the Monarchs never looked back.

Near the end of the month, the Monarchs won the division and secured their most wins all-time in their final series against the Green Giants in Ontario.

Needless to say, the month of July brought much success for Lake Erie against St. Clair.

This, however, is not July, and this is not the regular season. This is the playoffs.

In the first playoff game of all-time for the Green Giants, and the first since 2012 for the Monarchs, we see the battle of the two teams who held the lone position at the top of the GLSCL North at some time during the season.

With key losses from both teams, from injury and players returning to college teams, the battle of attrition has never been truer for either team.

Scenarios for the GLSCL Playoffs change drastically depending on who wins. Lima (Central) and Richmond (South) received byes due to winning their divisions (North was full of too new teams to give champ byes). Grand Lake plays at Southern Ohio tonight as well.

If Lake Erie wins, they'll play a three game (two at Flat Rock) series against the Richmond Jazz. As the Monarchs record is better, they'll be the higher seed. Lima would host the winner of Grand Lake/Southern Ohio in a three game series.

If St. Clair wins, they'll play a three game series hosted by Lima, and Richmond would play the winner of Grand Lake/Southern Ohio.

Whoever wins today will begin their best-of-three series immediately, meaning tomorrow.

Ain't no rest for the wicked, and whoever truly claims the North tonight will be the sole representative of the division going forward. 

Needless to say, the War of the Border is going to be a game not to be missed.

We hope to see you at Flat Rock Field tonight at 7 P.M. for the first playoff game at Flat Rock Field in years. Flat Rock Animal Shelter will be at the game at 6:30 P.M. with dogs and information on rescuing. We'll have some giveaways throughout the night as well, and a full night of exciting baseball action that you can't afford to miss. If you can't be there, remember you can listen to the entire Monarchs playoff run live on MonarchsRadio.com with Assistant GM Shawn Bednard.

Time to reign in the North.