Jackets on brink of first title since '99
By Billy Byler| Staff Writer
Thursday, September 11, 2008

One more win -- that's all that stands between the Augusta GreenJackets and a 2008 South Atlantic League Championship in Charleston, W.Va.

The GreenJackets, who took the first two games in Augusta for a commanding series lead, will head to Appalachian Power Park looking to finish off the West Virginia Power.

"We're going to take our travel day, and then we're going up there to do some damage," GreenJackets second baseman Nick Noonan said. "Hopefully, we can get it done in the first game up there."

The GreenJackets will have three shots at clinching the team's first SAL title since 1999. They rolled over the Northern Division champions Monday and Tuesday at Lake Olmstead Stadium with strong pitching and just enough hitting.

Augusta has won the battle on the mound, thanks to strong outings from starters Craig Clark and Madison Bumgarner and a bullpen that allowed only one run and four hits in six innings. The pitching staff's 1.00 ERA in the series has come against the league's top hitting team.

"Everybody in the lineup is contributing, and that's a healthy thing," GreenJackets manager Andy Skeels said. "The pitching is there, and we've swung the bats well enough when we've needed to. That's what we've done all year."

But that style of play might be harder to come by in Charleston. Skeels said there's more of a difference between Lake Olmstead Stadium and West Virginia's ballpark than just the 450-mile trip.

"Their ballpark is probably the most hitter-friendly in the league," Skeels said. "I don't know that it changes the way we're going to play. The team we are is the team we are. We're still going to go out and try to outpitch them."

The Power, who led the league in batting (.276), runs (747), hits (1,312), doubles (267), RBI (668) and on-base percentage (.343), will return to a ballpark where they posted the best second-half home record (23-12) in the Northern Division.

West Virginia's starter tonight will be right-hander Evan Anundsen, who gave up four earned runs in four innings in his only regular-season start against the GreenJackets, which came Aug. 11.

Lefty Scott Barnes, who allowed one hit in seven shutout innings in the same game, will take the mound for the GreenJackets.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.

From the Thursday, September 11, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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