Number of series games up in the air for 2009

By Robert Daski

Published: September 3, 2008

Carolina League president John Hopkins attended game one of the Northern Division series between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Potomac Nationals on Tuesday.
Hopkins liked the idea of expanding the first round of the league playoffs from three games to five games, but did not know if that would continue after this year.
“The jury’s still out,” Hopkins said. “It’s the first time we’ve had this thing.
“I’m not opposed to [continuing it],” he added. “I think it’s worth trying.”
The idea to add two games to the postseason was suggested by the league owners at the league’s annual meeting last December.
A factor that could lead to league owners moving the Division series back to a best of three series is how well attendance is at sites that host first round games.
Only 851 people attended Tuesday’s game at Pfitzner Stadium for the opener of this series.
“I think it’ll depend on how we draw,” Hopkins said.
“We’ll see what kind of crowds we have.”
Another issue that is worth following during this postseason is the weather.
Hurricane Hanna is looming on the horizon of the Carolinas and the Winston-Salem Warthogs and Myrtle Beach Pelicans are playing in the Southern Division series.
Playing doubleheaders are an option if the weather wreaks havoc and games are washed out.
“I won’t rule out doubleheaders,” Hopkins said.
In 1999, Hurricane Floyd forced the Mills Cup to stop and Wilmington and Myrtle Beach were declared co-champions.
“We were playing in Myrtle Beach and it was Game Five of a very competitive series,” Hopkins said. “The governor ordered an evacuation. So that’s why we gave them both the title.”
DEFENSE RULES
Tuesday’s game had its share of defensive gems. In the fourth inning, Potomac shortstop Dan Lyons dove and smothered a ball hit by Wilmington’s Cody Strait.
Lyons threw to second baseman Michael Martinez covering second to get Paulo Orlando out six-four.
Strait reached on a fielder’s choice.
After Strait’s at-bat, Brad Correll bounced into a three-six-one double play.
In the bottom of the fifth, Potomac’s Michael Burgess was thrown out eight-two at home plate as he tried to score from second.
REMEMBER ME?
Correll spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Potomac. He also spent the 2006 season with the Lynchburg Hillcats when he was in the Pirates system.
The Royals are his seventh major league organization.
Correll, who went hitless in his first four at-bats on Tuesday, has also been with the Reds, Phillies, Cardinals, Marlins and Red Sox.
Correll, Wilmington’s first baseman, entered the game hitting .277.