The Southern League has announced that, due to the uncertainty of Hurricane Irma, it will cancel its 2017 Championship Series. The Class AA circuit will now declare co-champions at the conclusion of the postseason’s divisional round.
In making this decision, the Southern League becomes the second Minor League Baseball circuit to cancel its finals because of the threat of Hurricane Irma. The High-A Florida Sate League had previously made the same decision, announcing the cancellation of its finals earlier this week.
Each of the winners of the best-of-5 North and South Division Series will be declared Co-Champions for the 2017 Southern League season.
“With an abundance of caution, I have made the hard decision to cancel our Championship Series,” stated league president Lori Webb. “Due to concerns for our players’ safety, coupled with potential shortages of gas, hotel rooms and other items that may hinder the many evacuees leaving the affected area, it seemed like the right thing to do. As this storm passes through, I hope for the best to all those in harm’s way.”
Additionally, the South Division Series has also been affected by the impending weather and evacuation. Game three (and games four and five, if necessary) will be relocated from Jacksonville, but the Jumbo Shrimp will remain the “home” team for all three contests. Game three will be held in Pensacola, the host site of games one and two, while games four and five would be played in Biloxi.
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