Danville clinches playoff spot with win over Johnson City Saturday night

The Otterbots’ win, combined with the Pulaski River Turtles’ loss to the Burlington Sock Puppets Saturday night, guaranteed the ‘Bots no less than the Appalachian League East Division wild card…

PHOTO: Brian Cendejas.

The Danville Otterbots locked a spot in the Appalachian League playoffs with a 20–5 win over the Johnson City Doughboys in Appy League play Saturday night.

The Otterbots’ win, combined with the Pulaski River Turtles’ loss to the Burlington Sock Puppets Saturday night, guaranteed the ‘Bots no less than the Appalachian League East Division wild card.

Danville (24–17) currently sits two games ahead of Pulaski (22–19) in the East. The Otterbots and River Turtles both have four games remaining on their schedules.

The Bluefield Ridge Runners are still in the running as well. Bluefield (18–22) currently sits in third place, 3.5 games behind Pulaski and 5.5 behind Danville.

The race in the West Division is neck-and-neck with the Kingsport Axmen currently on top of the standings. Kingsport (23–20) sits a game ahead the Johnson City Doughboys while the Elizabethton River Riders are 1.5 games out. Johnson City currently sits at 22–21 while Elizabethton is right on the Doughboys’ heels at 21–21.

Per Appalachian League rules, the №1 seed in each division will host the №2 in a one-game playoff.

The playoffs begin July 31. The championship game will be played Aug. 1.

The Otterbots will be seeking their second league title in three years.

Danville closes its three-game series against Johnson City today at 2 p.m.