EVERETT — As they head into the final two weeks of the season, the Everett AquaSox find themselves in need-a-miracle territory when it comes to qualifying for the postseason.
The Frogs (25-29 second half, 57-63 overall) fell to eight games out of a Northwest League Championship Series berth with 12 games remaining after a 2-4 trip to Vancouver.
Both of the final two weeks have a different look compared to most series this season.
Northwest League teams typically play six-game, Tuesday-Sunday series with off days on Mondays. Everett begins a six-game series in Eugene (22-32, 55-64) on Tuesday, but the teams will play a double-header on Thursday with an off-day Saturday.
Everett’s final home series of the the season will begin on Sept. 2 (Labor Day) against first-half champion Spokane (33-21, 71-47). Both teams will take Tuesday off before a final five-game stretch that concludes on Sept. 8.
The magic number for Vancouver to clinch the second-half title and a spot in the championship series is down to four, meaning any combination of four or more Vancouver wins and AquaSox losses puts the Canadians in the postseason. Vancouver holds the tiebreaker, which is determined by its 2-4 record against the Frogs in the second half.
Vancouver faces Hillsboro (26-28, 51-58) this week. The Hops, who hold a one-game edge over Everett, are also in the playoff mix. If Vancouver, Hillsboro and Everett were to somehow end up tied after the final 12 games, the postseason spot would be determined by the top winning percentage over the final 20 games.
What does this mean if you’re a Frogs fan? The short version is there’s likely one more series at Funko Field to see some top prospects who may play elsewhere next season. It’s unknown where Colt Emerson (the top-ranked prospect in the Mariners minor league system), Lazaro Montes (No. 3), Michael Arroyo (No. 12) and Jared Sundstrom (No. 30) might end up either within or outside the M’s organization next spring.
Players of the week
Hitter: Freuddy Batista. The catcher led the AquaSox with in batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.538) and OPS (1.138) against Vancouver. One of his bigger offensive contributions occurred when he did not get a hit, however. Batista, a 24-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, broke a 2-2 tie in Friday’s game with a 10th-inning sacrifice fly that scored Sundstrom from third base for a 3-2 victory.
Pitcher: Ryan Hawks. One of three Everett starters who have been in the rotation all season, Hawks allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings in Friday’s 3-2 victory over Vancouver. An eighth-round pick out of Louisville in 2023, the 23-year-0ld struck out five and walked none in the game. Hawks (6-8, 5.58 ERA) leads the AquaSox with 109 2/3 innings pitched this season.
The week ahead
Everett travels to Eugene for its final road series of the season. The Emeralds had a strong first half, going 33-32, but have struggled in the second half with a 22-32 record. They lost five of six to Tri-City, which held last place in the division prior to beating Eugene on Sunday.
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