BQE (6) vs. Braves (1) or Warriors (8)

            The BQE responded from a Game 1 loss to the Mud Hens last week by winning two games on Sunday, which including a Game 3 bludgeoning that saw them hang 17 runs on the Swampers, while holding their opponents scoreless. They will be facing the winner of the Braves-Warriors series, which will be resumed on Saturday morning.

            The Warriors have battled gamely against the Brooklyn/Queens Division’s top-seed, winning a crucial game two showdown to force a rubber match that was postponed due to thunder and lightening. The Braves find themselves three-outs away from reaching the second round, as they currently lead the Warriors by three runs in the top of the 7^th inning.  

            Should the Warriors prevail, it remains to be seen whether or not they have the pitching to get through a three-plus game weekend. If the Braves win, a likely Game 1 showdown will pit one of the league’s most dominant pitchers, Winfild De la Rosa, against an offensive juggernaut that just now seems to be hitting their stride, with  players such as Bill Pisani, Mike Castellano and Phil Nicholas all having big a series in the first round.

            In addition to their offensive outburst, BQE’s defense was also on display as  centerfielder Junior Ramirez made a number of acrobatic catches on Sunday, including a potential season-saving shoestring grab to end Game 2.

Pirates (5) vs. Rough Riders (2)

            After losing to Storm ace Mike Pena on Saturday, the Pirates roared back to win Games 2 and 3 4-2 and 8-4 respectively. That puts them on a collision course with the Riders, who earned the division’s only sweep last weekend as they took two from the Bandits.

            The lower-seeded Pirates took two games from the Riders during the regular season, beating the 2-seed 8-0 and 3-2. Pirates leadoff hitter Jason Lopes had much success against the Riders, going 3-for-8 on the weekend, while pitchers William Beglin and Melvin Cortorreal both had success in keeping the Riders’ bats at bay. The Pirates were the first team to hang an earned run on Riders closer Juan Ramon, scoring two off the league’s top relief pitcher. Ramon, also the Riders’ leadoff hitter, will need to be more active in this series, as he managed only one hit in two games against the Pirates.

            Logic would dictate that higher-scoring games would benefit a solid Pirates lineup, while close, low-scoring games would likely favor the Riders and their defense-first mindset.