Texas Bracket - First Round Results

The first Colorado Springs team to actually find playoff success, their season 10 team, contines with that 'playoff success' theme in this one, as the #1 seeds would have no problem beating the 16th seeded Breeze of season 12, a team who did make it all the way to the NLCS, but didn't have nearly the regular season success CSP10 had.

In the 8/9 matchup, the first of 5 World Series Champions from this bracket advances to the 2nd round. 9th seeded Kansas City, which won the World Series in season 3, easily disposes of 8th seeded Charlotte of season 9, a 104 win team that was swept out of the playoffs in the first round.

In the 5/12 matchup, another Pawtucket team takes an early exit - a theme in Pawtucket history. The 5th seeded Polythene of season 11, which won 106 games and reached the NLCS, are upset by the 12th seeded Jacksonville Juggernauts of season 7. Those Juggernauts only won 98 games - but they also won the World Series.

That sets up a second round matchup of World Series Champions, as the 4/13 matchup saw an even larger upset. 4th seeded Colorado Springs of season 9 won 109 games, and then lost in one of the biggest upsets of all-time, to the 81-81 Rochester Rhinos in the NLDS. This time around, they lose to a team who won slightly more games, the 92-70 Kansas City Shuffle of season 1. Those Shuffle did what those Rhinos could not, and go on to win the World Series. Now they'll face off with #12 seeded Jacksonville in one of two 2nd round matchups pitting World Series Champions against each other.

After watching the 12th & 13th seeds advance, #11 Pawtucket was not about to be left out of that party. Their season 9 team was the defending World Series Champions, won 100 games, and more impressively posted an 8-5 playoff record, despite losing in the NLCS. Their opponent, the 6th seeded Tittyballs of season 8, were the defending NL Champions, and won 106 games, also losing in the NLCS (but only posting a 5-5 playoff record). This matchup would come down to the wire, and 2 former Pawtucket pitchers decided it. In the decisive matchup of the series, Christopher Ramirez of Pawtucket would outduel Enrique Infante of Texas, moving Pawtucket into round 2.

So now the 11th, 12th, & 13th seeds are in round 2. Why not another upset? This one completed by the biggest underdog champion in league history; the season 11 Kansas City Shuffle, who are the 14th seed. For those who forget, this team went only 90-72, and was the AL's #6 seed, before posting an incredible 14-6 playoff record and winning the World Series. Their opponent, the Pawtucket Polythene of season 6 were the 2-time defending NL Champions, won an franchise record 110 games, and reached the NLCS. Many consider this the greatest Pawtucket team of all-time. If that's the case, the greatest Pawtucket team just got devastated by its biggest interleague rival.

Pawtucket entered the tournament tied with a league high 10 participants. After that last upset, their teams now sit at 4-4 in the first round. Make that 4-5 now, after 7th seeded Iowa City of season 2 easily beats 10th seeded Pawtucket of season 7. This Pawtucket team got swept in its opening playoff series, while the Iowa City team won the AL Pennant.

The 2/15 matchup also isn't a close one. Jacksonville of season 9, a 113-win World Series Champion, would have absolutely no problem beating #15 seed Louisville of season 4. This Louisville team did find success in the playoffs, losing in the ALCS and finishing with a 7-5 record, but their 90-72 record makes it evident that the mighty Juggernauts are out of their league.

8 teams left in the Texas bracket, including 5 World Series Champions & 2 World Series runner-ups.

The round 2 matchups are:

#1 Colorado Springs Season 10 (NL Champs) vs #9 Kansas City Season 3 (WS Champs)
#12 Jacksonville Season 7 (WS Champs) vs #13 Kansas City Season 1 (WS Champs)

#11 Pawtucket Season 9 vs #14 Kansas City Season 11 (WS Champs)
#2 Jacksonville Season 9 (WS Champs) vs #7 Iowa City Season 2 (AL Champs)

Click Here to view the up to date bracket.

Final first round results, from the Pawtucket bracket, will be posted tomorrow.