atlanticleague.com: Around the League

ALPB Division Series Get Underway Tonight

Southern Maryland at Lancaster

Starting Pitchers: Daryl Thompson (SMD) vs. Oscar De La Cruz (LAN)

Lancaster Barnstormers

Overall Record: 73-58

Qualification: North Division Second Half Champion (44-21)

ALPB Playoff Appearances: 7th (21-14)

Division Championship Series Record: 3-3 (13-11)

2022 Team BA: .276 (1st)

2022 Team ERA: 4.47 (3rd)

2022 Fielding: .975 (4th)

Notes: The Barnstormers posted the best half-season record in club history at .677 (44-21) after a 29-37 first half... LAN led the league with a .276 batting average and 1,220 hits... The pitching staff led the ALPB with 1,153 strikeouts... The ‘Stormers excelled in the second half despite

the absence of 1st half All-Star Kelly Dugan and OF LeDarious Clark... Starter Nile Ball (11-5) has won four of his last five starts entering the playoffs while closer West Tunnell (6-1, 11 saves) has converted 11 of 12 save opportunities... Andretty Cordero was the ALPB POTM in August and finished with a .339 average and 118 RBI.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Overall Record: 83-48

Qualification: North Division First Half Champion (44-21)

ALPB Playoff Appearances: 9th (14-26)

Division Championship Series Record: 2-6 (8-12)

2022 Team BA: .268 (7th)

2022 Team ERA: 3.98 (2nd)

2022 Fielding: .976 (2nd)

Notes: The Blue Crabs posted an Atlantic League record .727 winning percentage (48-18) in winning the North first half pennant and went 35-30 in the second half... SMD led the league with 45 triples and used the HBP as an offensive weapon, getting hit a league-high 115 times... SMD has the league’s second-best ERA at 3.98 and a pair of 10-game winners in Daryl Thompson (15-4) and Eddie Butler (12-6)... SMD’s pitchers issued the fewest walks in the ALPB in 2022... SMD won the season series from Lancaster (12-5), going 9-0 in the first half and 3-5 in the second... SMD was 7-2 at home vs. LAN and 5-3 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

High Point at Gastonia

Starting Pitchers: Craig Stem (HP) vs. John Anderson (GAS)

Gastonia Honey Hunters

Overall Record: 88-44

Qualification: South Division 1st & 2nd Half Champion (45-21/43-23)

ALPB Playoff Appearances: First

Division Championship Series Record: First

2022 Team BA: .275 (2nd)

2022 Team ERA: 3.89 (1st)

2022 Fielding: .978 (3rd)

Notes: Gastonia won both halves of the South Division in dominant fashion and its 88 wins were not only the best in the league but the fourth-most ever by an ALPB club... The Honey Hunters were 45-21 in the first half and 43-43 in the second... Gastonia led the league with a 3.89 ERA and was second in batting average at .275... The Honey Hunters stole a league-record 305 bases and had two members of the 20-20 Club in Jake Skole (23 HR, 26 SB) and Zach Jarrett (21 HR, 32 SB)... Reece Hampton led the ALPB with 65 steals... The pitching staff is highlighted by a pair of 10-game winners in lefty John Anderson (13-4) and righty Sam Bordner (11-5) as well as ace closer Jesus Balaguer who co-led the ALPB with 25 saves in 2022... GAS went 20-14 vs. HP this year including a 6-1 mark in the first half and a 14-13 edge in the second half... Gastonia was 10-7 vs. High Point both at CaroMont Health Park and at Truist Point.

High Point Rockers

Overall Record: 71-61

Qualification: Wild Card

ALPB Playoff Appearances: 2nd

Division Championship Series Record: 0-1 (0-3)

2022 Team BA: .265 (5th)

2022 Team ERA: 4.58 (4th)

2022 Fielding: .982 (1st)

Notes: High Point was the last entrant into the playoff field, earning the Wild Card berth on Sept. 15... High Point went 39-27 in the first half and 32-34 in the second half... The Rockers have the most home runs of any team in the playoffs with 161 and led the ALPB with a .982 fielding percentage... The Rockers get their power from three 20-homer hitters in Zander Wiel (32 HR, 98 RBI), Jerry Downs (22 HR, 83 RBI), and Quincy Latimore (21 HR, 79 RBI)... OF Ben Aklinski just missed the 20-20 Club with 19 homers and 20 stolen bases... The Rockers had the second-best September record of any ALPB club at 10-6 in order to gain the Wild Card berth... Closer Ryan Dull (7-1, 13 saves) had the second-most wins among ALPB relievers.

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