“AA” Division

Bronx/Manhattan Championship:

#2 Bronx Orioles (19-6) vs. #5 NY Beers (13-12)

The first-year Orioles slugged their way to a two-seed this year and have shown no signs of slowing down in the playoffs. Standing in the Orioles’ way, however, is the NY Beers, the longest-tenured team in the NYCMBL.

The Beers, who have been in the league since 2004, are enjoying their deepest playoff run in the club’s history, toppling the mighty Yankees last round thanks to some sharp pitching by Cy Young candidate Ryan Smith and a timely Game 2 grand slam from centerfielder Chris Moseley.

The Beers’ pitching staff will have their hands full with a loaded O’s lineup that features the likes of Tommy Liang and Matt Ortiz.

The Beers swept the Orioles in a late-June double header, but the O’s bounced back well, winning five of their last six regular season games and sweeping in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Brooklyn/Queens Championship:

#1 NYC Mud Hens (16-7) vs. #3 BQE Nationals (13-11-1)

After beating the Bandits in a three-game set, the Nats swept the Baisley Pirates to advance to the division finals in their first year of existence. The majority of the team does have championship experience, however, as the Nats (playing as the Indians) were crowned Fall Ball champs in 2013.

The Hens, on the other hand, have been in the league since 2009 and reached the division finals just once before, in 2011. They outlasted a game Rainmakers squad in the second round to force a much-anticipated match up with the hot-hitting BQE.

The Nationals bested the Hens in the first meeting between the two teams this year, earning a 10-0 mercy-rule win, which the Hens avenged with a double-header sweep later in the season. Like the Beers/O’s match up, this will likely boil down to a battle between the Hens’ pitching staff and the big bats of the BQE

“A” Division

#1 Bronx Titans (22-3) vs. #4 Bx/Harlem Knights (11-9-1)

The BX/Harlem Knights are the new kids on the block and will be facing off against a Titans team that has had a terrific 2014 season.

The Titans survived a scare from the NYC Metros last round, with the upstart club taking the perennial “A” power three games. The Knights tangled with a solid Too Hot team last weekend, also winning a decisive Game 3 in dramatic fashion.

The Titans are one of the most complete teams in “A”, with a balanced lineup led by RBI-machine Jason Irizarry. The Knights are led by their powerful 1-2 punch on the pound with Odalis Tavarez and John Garcia.

#2 Nassau Yankees (16-6) vs. #3 Astoria Mets (14-10)

Last year’s “A” division runners up, the Yankees took care of business against the Skyscrapers last round to move one step closer to getting back into title contention. In their way is a revamped Mets team that proved especially tough to beat in the last half of the season.

The Yanks are led by their brash catcher/pitcher Pudge Johnson who hit .438 with a pair of homers while also picking up 3 wins on the mound. The Mets have a double-threat of their own in off-season pickup Jonathan Simkins who led the team with a .545 avg and a 2.77 ERA.