PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Division vs. South Side

After a thrilling, come-from-behind win on Monday against Bethpage, the South Side Cyclones will take on Conference A-II rival Division in the Conference A playoff quarterfinals today in a best-of-three series.

The Cyclones took two of three games from the Blue Dragons in their regular season matchup, and each game was decided by a run. Now the two rivals will meet again, and here's how the matchup breaks down.

Division won the first matchup, 4-3, at Barasch Field with ace Sean Abbate on the mound. The Cyclones had a 3-1 edge late, but the Blue Dragons scored three in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. South Side had the game-tying run at third with none out in the sixth, but couldn't push the run in.

In the second game at Division, South Side built a 6-1 lead, but the Blue Dragons scored five in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and send it to extras. David Hawley worked a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to give the Cyclones a 7-6 lead, and closer Griffin Wagner closed it out in the bottom half for the win.

In the rubber match, the Cyclones mounted a 4-0 lead against Division starter Kyle Jordan, and South Side starter Andrew Talbot cruised through five innings. The Blue Dragons scratched out three runs in the sixth to cut South Side's lead to 4-3, but that was as close as they'd get. Wagner struck out the side in the seventh to seal the 4-3 win.

Division Players to Watch For:

• Starter Sean Abbate. The heat-throwing righty struck out 17 in Division's Conference A playoff game against Clarke last Saturday, shocking the No. 2 seed at home. Against South Side, Abbate threw 120 pitches for a complete-game win, giving up seven hits, three runs with six strikeouts and four walks.
• Centerfielder John Cruz. The speedy outfielder gobbled up anything hit into the outfield, making ten putouts in the three-game series. The leadoff hitter is known for working walks, scoring runs and wreaking havoc on the base path. South Side will have to keep him close if he reaches base.
• Third Baseman Matt Santorufo: Division's cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs in the first game, and 1-for-3 in the rubber game. He is a threat to go deep every at bat.