Rare June rain dampens start of Babe Ruth playoffs

Second-round action tonight, title games set for this weekend

During the recent Sonoma Valley Babe Ruth regular-season, Van Scott (right) of the American League’s first-place and playoffs top-seeded Bears slides safely into third-base as Quenton Dugan of the Broncos leaps for the ball while Bears’ coach Marcus Amantite watches the play.

Greg Ludlow Photography/Special to the Index-Tribune

First the Sonoma Valley Babe Ruth Baseball’s regular-season had a rain-staggered start and now, in this unpredictable weather year, the postseason playoffs have been delayed with an unheard-of June rain storm on Tuesday, wit the wet effects carrying over to Wednesday and forcing first-round games to yesterday (Thursday).

In the National League, the regular-season champion and top-seeded Lions were scheduled to play the fourth-seed Stallions in Tuesday’s opening round, but the game took place last night, with the results not available at presstime.

Originally slated for Thursday, the second-seeded Cubs will now face the third-seeded Moose in their opener at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Arnold Field, with the first-round winners battling for the Babe Ruth National League playoffs title at noon tomorrow, Saturday, July 2.

If the regular-season champion Lions won last night’s opener, they would have to be beaten twice to be denied the playoffs crown, with the possible second championship game set for noon this Sunday, July 3.

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The Sonoma Valley Babe Ruth Baseball’s American League first-place finisher and the top-seed for the postseason playoffs are the Bears, who played the fourth-seeded A’s in last night’s rescheduled first-round game, with the results not available at presstime.

Tonight’s rescheduled opening-round game between the second-seeded Broncos and third-seeded Warriors at Arnold Field begins at 5 p.m., with the first-round winners battling for the Babe Ruth American League playoffs title at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, July 2.

As in the National League, if the regular-season champion Bears won last night’s opener, they would have to be beaten twice to be denied the playoffs crown, with the possible second championship game set for 9 a.m. this Sunday, July 3.