This week, and perhaps as soon as Tuesday night, the West Coast League’s first two postseason berths will be clinched by the first-half winners in each division.

Given the nature of West Coast League scheduling, it’s practically impossible for every WCL team to finish their “first half” on the same date.

As a result, each team’s first half officially ends on the date, or occasionally one day after, when they were originally scheduled to play their 27th game. In the event of halted, suspended, or postponed games that will not be completed or played by that date, those games will ultimately count in the second-half (and of course full-season) standings.

Sunday, the Victoria HarbourCats locked in their first-half record: 19-8.

Meanwhile, the Wenatchee AppleSox (18-6) and Bellingham Bells (17-7) both remain very much in contention with Victoria for the North Division’s first-half playoff slot (and home-field edge in the first round of the WCL playoffs next month). Beginning tomorrow night, the Bells host the Kamloops NorthPaws, while the AppleSox visit the Port Angeles Lefties.

Wenatchee controls their own destiny, as a sweep would clinch the first-half title. But there are multitude of possibilities, from any one of those three teams finishing with the best record to a three-way tie. In the event of a two- or three-team tie, there are various tiebreakers, beginning with head-to-head records among the tied teams. All playoff procedures are outlined on this page.

In the South Division, the Ridgefield Raptors have also reached their halfway point, with an 18-8 (.692) record (they’ve got a makeup game scheduled that will, when played later this summer, count in the second-half standings).

The Corvallis Knights are on track to play 27 games in their first half, but the Portland Pickles, due to halted and postponed games, will likely finish with only 24.

To beat out Ridgefield, both Portland and Corvallis have to sweep their series this week; Portland heads north to Ridgefield, and Corvallis heads way north to Kelowna. If both teams manage road sweeps, the Pickles will finish with the slightest of edges over Corvallis in winning percentage (.708-.704), and snag that first-half playoff spot.

With eight teams heading to the playoffs – the first- and second-half winners in each division, plus two wild cards – teams not finishing atop first-half standings are top contenders for wild-card spots, while every WCL team can legitimately entertain second-half hopes.

To follow this week’s action, plus the rest of the season and playoffs, fans can catch all the action via WCL Live, the league’s user-friendly video streaming platform.

About the West Coast League: The West Coast League is the West’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Encompassing Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and now Alberta, the WCL showcases pro prospects from major collegiate conferences around the nation. Every summer, the League features unparalleled fan and player experiences, with North America’s best baseball weather and a mix of classic and modern ballparks, all backdropped by the sport’s most stunning scenery. The 2019 MLB amateur draft began with former Corvallis Knight Adley Rutschman selected with the overall No. 1 pick by the Baltimore Orioles, and the 2022 draft featured two West Coast League alumni, Brooks Lee and Gabriel Hughes, among the first 10 picks.