Whose Time is it Anyway? SBL Playoff Race Explained

The game Thursday, July 21, 2018 between the Ventura County Pirates and Inland Valley Pirates has important playoff implications for Ventura County. Photo by Brian Mellblom.

JULY 19, 2018 -LOS ANGELES-

Summer ball is often thought of as a mere workout for the Winter season, but the format still includes postseason baseball and the Ventura County Pirates find themselves with a magic number of two with four league games remaining.

Ventura County is racing the Solana Beach Redbirds for the playoff tape. The “magic number” phrase means that any combination of Redbirds’ league losses and Pirates’ league wins that adds up to two will result in the Pirates making the postseason with the fourth and final seed. Therefore, the Pirates control their own destiny and can clinch a playoff spot before the Redbirds even play their next game.

Specific scenarios abound. The Pirates could either miss the playoffs (gasp), beat out the Redbirds for the fourth and final seed, or surpass the Signal Hill Oilers for the third seed.

That last scenario would occur if the Pirates sweep the Oilers in the two remaining games between those teams. Those games will both occur Saturday July, 21 at Long Beach City College starting at 1 p.m.

Ventura County can bring the magic number to one when they play host to the Inland Valley Pirates Thursday July, 21 at LA Valley College. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The Pirates will be looking to rebound from an uncharacteristic defeat Wednesday at the hands of the Metro League Gamers.