2008 Benchwarmer Championships

Tombstone comes into the playoffs off their fourth straight division title.  Atlanta's been here before, but not since 2005.  And Norfolk Southern and BALCO LABS make their initial entries into the postseason.

Homestead Grays Conference: Norfolk Southern (87-63) vs. BALCO LABS (87-63)

Three seasons of Shadowball Playoffs.  Three championships won by a team from the Chicago American Giants Division.  Make that three different teams.  Can Norfolk Southern be the fourth?  Meanwhile, BALCO LABS, who finished third in 2007 after two last-place seasons, became the first team in the division to knock off NJ.  It was close, and they fell into 2nd place for a while, but eventually won by 2 games.  Because of the 7-5 advantage in head-to-head games, BALCO gets the home field.

Season series: BALCO LABS won 7 games to 5

League Power Index Rankings: BALCO LABS: 3  Norfolk Southern: 2

BALCO LABS Wins in 6 Games

Kansas City Monarchs Conference: Tombstone (78-72) vs. Atlanta (91-59)

Atlanta enters the playoffs as perhaps the top team in the league - and the only division champ who breezed to the title.  The franchise won the division in 2005, but over the last two years had post-season success by winning both of the lower-rung tournaments.  This is Tombstone's 4th trip to the playoffs in the league's 4 years of existence.  This is the first time that they begin without home field advantage in the conference series.  They won the conference title in both 2005 and 2006, but have yet to win it all.

Season series: Atlanta won 8 games to 4

League Power Index Rankings: Atlanta: 1  Tombstone: 6

Tombstone Wins in 4 Games

BWB CHAMPIONSHIP : Tombstone vs. BALCO LABS

There are always some upsets in the playoffs, and Tombstone pulled off a 4-game sweep of Atlanta to move into the league finals.  Now, they are probably the underdogs again against BALCO.  This is Tombstone's 3rd conference title, but they have yet to win it all - and BALCO never finished higher than 3rd before this season.  Only the winner will advance to the Benchwarmer Bash - neither team can qualify as a wild card.

Season series: BALCO LABS won 4 games to 2.

BALCO LABS Wins in 5 Games

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