The 3,599 fans that were in attendance – tonight’s game between the Hawks and Vancouver was truly a playoff atmosphere, and were treated to a playoff type game.  Rafael Lopez’s two-run homer in the sixth exuded the largest cheers of the season from the hometown crowd, though the collective gasp on Nick Baligod’s RBI double in the ninth was just as dramatic in the C’s 3-2 win.

Luckily for the hometown nine, the playoff scenarios played out perfectly.  Tri-City won to clinch the East Division second half title, Everett hung on to defeat Spokane, 7-5, allowing the Hawks to maintain a one-game lead on the Indians in the overall standings with just one game left.

The playoff scenario is simple – if the Hawks win tomorrow’s 11:35 a.m. matinee, they will advance to the postseason for the first time since 2006 – meeting Tri-City in a Best of 3 divisional series, starting Monday.  If the Hawks were to lose, they are not out – they must wait hours for the Everett-Spokane game to finish, and if Spokane were to lose – the Hawks would still move on.

For Vancouver, tomorrow’s game is meaningless – their playoff hopes are out of their hands.  They are Eugene and Spokane fans – as if either Eugene defeats Yakima, or Everett tops Spokane, the Canadians will move on.  Eugene holds a one-game lead on Everett in the 2nd half race, and if Eugene wins the second half pennant outright – Vancouver has the best overall mark.  However, if Everett pulls even with Eugene, they will advance, as the Aquasox hold the tiebreaker.

See you bright and early at the ballpark – Listen Live on 1350 KTIK-AM or only through the Minor League Baseball Gameday Audio package.