Walk-off HR Propels Menasha Past Bandits

The playoff picture remains out of focus, but got a lot dimmer, as the Menasha Macs defeated the Manitowoc Bandits by a score of 5-2 on Monday night at Menasha behind a walk-off 3 run homerun.  Green Bay and Sheboygan split their Monday night doubleheader, giving Green Bay a share of the regular season crown and one of four playoff spots.  The remaining three playoff spots are up for grabs between Manitowoc, Menasha, Appleton and Sheboygan.  This is the final week of the regular season and the Bandits host the Legends tonight at Municipal Field at 7:30 before hosting their regular season finale on Thursday against De Pere.  With Appleton at 14-9 and the Bandits at 12-10, this is a must-win for the Bandits.  Menasha has only one games remaining which is with Sheboygan and Sheboygan also has one game with Oshkosh and three games remaining with De Pere.   Realistically, there could be three or four teams tied with 14 wins, bringing tie-breakers into effect.  To accomplish 14 wins, the Bandits must win tonight and again on Thursday.  If the Bandits win out and defeat both Appleton and De Pere and finish with 14 wins, they would be tied with Appleton.  To make 14 wins, they would have defeated Appleton three times this year, giving them the head-to-head tie-breaker with Appleton.  If Sheboygan would then defeat Menasha, capping them at 13 wins, the Bandits would be in.  If Menasha would beat Sheboygan, Menasha/Appleton/Manitowoc would all have fourteen wins and we can start over with the math.