Skeeters heading back to ALPB postseason to defend 2018 championship
(Sugar Land, Texas, July 7, 2019) - The Sugar Land Skeeters today clinched the First-Half Freedom Division Championship, securing a berth into the 2019 Atlantic League Postseason. The Skeeters will be making their second straight trip to the playoffs and their fifth overall trip in the franchise’s eight-year history.
The Skeeters first-half title gives them their third straight regular-season Freedom Division Championship. They won both the first half and second halves of the Freedom Division in 2018 en route to winning the Atlantic League Championship. The Skeeters have now secured a spot in the postseason in their first two seasons under manager Pete Incaviglia. Since Incaviglia took over as the manager of the Skeeters prior to the 2018 season, the Skeeters have gone 116-79. The three-straight regular-season Freedom Division Championships are a Skeeters franchise record.
The Skeeters have won the Atlantic League Championship in two of the last three seasons, winning their first league title in 2016 and following that up with the ALPB Championship in 2018. Both of their wins in the Atlantic League Championship Series have come over the Long Island Ducks. Since the Skeeters joined the Atlantic League in 2012, the Ducks are the only other team to win two Atlantic League Championships. The last time the Skeeters made back-to-back trips to the postseason came during the 2013 and ‘14 seasons.
There have been 13 contracts purchased from the Skeeters’ 2019 roster, including 11 from Major League Baseball organizations. Both figures lead the Atlantic League this season. The Skeeters have had 23 contracts purchased by MLB organizations over the last two seasons, which is the most of any independent league baseball team over that stretch. The next closest is the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association at 16 contracts purchased by MLB organizations. The current Skeeters roster is comprised of 13 former Major Leaguers, including two players (RHP Nick Rumbelow, RHP Matt Ramsey) who’ve pitched in the Major Leagues in 2019.
The Skeeters have yet to announce dates for 2019 playoff games at Constellation Field or a date for when playoff tickets will go on sale. The team opens the second half of the regular season on July 12 at Constellation Field with a six-game series against the Long Island Ducks.
The Skeeters, winners of the 2018 Atlantic League Championship, begin their eighth season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball at Constellation Field. Individual tickets, season tickets and mini-plans for the 2019 season are currently available and can be purchased by visiting sugarlandskeeters.com, the TDECU Ticket Office at Constellation Field, or by calling the Skeeters at 281-240-4487.
All Skeeters home games can be streamed live on the Skeeters Youtube page or can be listened to live by visiting sugarlandskeeters.com.
Visit SugarLandSkeeters.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@SL_Skeeters) for all the latest team news and the latest on events to be hosted at Constellation Field.
About the Sugar Land Skeeters
The Skeeters play at Constellation Field, a state-of-the-art stadium located at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land. The Skeeters are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) and play 140 regular season games. The Skeeters Baseball Foundation promotes youth education and healthy activities lifestyles by providing support to culturally, racially and economically diverse areas of the community. For more information please call 281-240-4487 or visit sugarlandskeeters.com.
About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
With eight teams in Texas and the Mid-Atlantic, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 900 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 40 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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