Indians clinch playoff spot

After starting the season 1-7, the Spokane Indians have clinched the first half championship in the east division of the NWL. That gives them a playoff spot regardless of how they finish in the second half of the season.

SPOKANE, WA - The Spokane Indians were able to lock up a NWL playoff spot tonight by clinching the first half championship in a 7-0 victory over the Tri-City Dust Devils.

The Indians needed a victory in one of the two doubleheader games, and a Boise Hawks loss to clinch the playoff spot. Game one did not go the way that Spokane had hoped losing 10-3. In this game, Left fielder Jared Hoying hit his sixth home run of the season tying him for the NWL lead. The home run was also Hoying third consecutive game with a home run.

Before the second game began, the official score was reported from Yakima; the Bears beat the Boise Hawks 8-2. That was all the motivation the Indians needed for game two.

After a scoreless first, the Indians got the train to the playoff rolling in the second inning when designated hitter Andrew Clark scored on first baseman Clark Murphy's sacrifice fly. The Indians added two more runs in the fourth inning when Clark scored again, this time on a second baseman Santiago Chirino double. Murphy would later score while Chirino was caught in a run down between third base and home plate. Hoying scored another run in the fifth to give the Indians a 4-0 advantage.

The Indians locked up the victory when they added three more runs in the sixth inning from Murphy, catcher Kevin Torres and Chirino. 

This is great but what the heck do they do for the rest of the season?