Chicago Winds

The Winds spent most of the season outside the playoff picture in the Superior League's weakest division, but have turned it on down the stretch to make a playoff bid. Heading into the final two days of the season, Chicago had pulled one game ahead of 2nd place Charlotte. They had two games left against Springfield, when the league informed them that they would have to play a double-header.

Problem was that back on June 11th, Chicago and Texas had a game cancelled by rain. The league decided only to have them make the game up if it had playoff implications, and it did. In game one Chicago sent Mike Jolley to the hill, having a a breakout year at 15-9, 3.59 ERA, and 230 strikeouts. Jolley did not have it, giving up 5 runs in 4 innings in an 8-7 loss. In game 2, due to the late schedule shift, Chicago had no starters left. Catfish North, a workhorse in long relief this year, pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win. The final score was 7-2 as Ray Hamilton, Dragomir, and Jim Koons all homered.

Chicago clinched a tie with the win. For game 162, they play Texas and Charlotte plays Toledo.