Bridgewater advances

For the first time in franchise history, the Bridgewater Mallers have advanced to the DMBL World Series. The Mallers, who started their DMB life as one of the original six franchises, the Columbia Crusaders, didn't even have a winning record until current owner Jamie Landsman moved the team to D.C. in 2006. The franchise finally made the playoffs for the first time in 2007, and then had their first winning season in 2008 (yeah, they were only 81-81 in '07). Now the Mallers join an elite circle of five teams that have ever made the finals (Newark, Vancouver, Arkansas, Marietta, and Austin - only Austin has not won out of that group).

The Mallers await the winner of the Newark-Marietta showdown, which resumes today. Newark will send Brad Bergesen to the mound. Bergesen shut down Marietta to win in game 3. Meanwhile, Marietta will try something different, sending lefty Jarrod Washburn up against the Sugar Bears. The Mighty Men are actually 3-1 in regular season games against Newark when Washburn starts, though Washburn has struggled in some of those starts.