This season of Northwoods League baseball has been about as intriguing as it can be with the close races for the division championships in both divisions and in both halves. If you recall, the first half came down to the wire with Madison taking over first place on the final day of the first half in the South. Mankato clinched the North a day earlier but had three teams within striking distance up to that point.

Sure, things could change in the final 11 days of the regular season, but it looks like we won’t know which two teams will be joining Mankato and Madison until a day or two before the postseason begins on August 12th.

Some key series to watch for might be these:

Today and tomorrow, 1st Place Thunder Bay hosts Alexandria. They are currently separated by 1 1/2 games and this is their final head-to-head meeting. A two-game sweep one way or the other will certainly influence each teams chances. On the 8th and 9th Thunder Bay is at Mankato. That could impact the race in many ways including determining which team gets the extra home game if they meet again in the playoffs.

Wisconsin’s final seven games are against Green Bay (4) and La Crosse (3). Those will be big.

La Crosse and Waterloo’s next four games are against each other. Obviously a 4-0 or 3-1 result means trouble for somebody.

Eau Claire will get to impact both races. They have a pair of games against both St. Cloud and Mankato in addition to three big divisional games against Green Bay at the end of the year. They also play four total agasinst Madison and Battle Creek, the two teams in the South that have been in a tail spin recently. Madison has lost 11 of 12 and Battle Creek has dropped five in a row.

St. Cloud is going to need some help. They’re 2 1/2 games back and don’t play first place Thunder Bay the rest of the season. Eight of their ten remaining games are against teams also battling for a division lead.

Alexandria has one of the more favorable schedules. Six of their remaining games come at home against Rochester (2) and Duluth (4), a couple teams whose playoff chances are slim. Those games are sandwiched between four big ones including two at Thunder Bay beginning tonight and a home and home with St. Cloud to end the season. 

Everyone gets a much needed off day on Sunday, except for Green Bay and Madison who play that day and take Tuesday off.