Louisville Crushes Ottawa En Route to Third Consecutive NLCS Appearance

By KYLE KEOUGH
Double Day Daily

It didn't last long and it wasn't pretty - the Louisville Colonels uncerimoniously dismissed upstart Ottawa Great Lake St. in a battle between top contenders that quickly devolved into a route.

It was the sort of beatdown that has become customary for the Colonels, who have yet to be challenged in the ALDS, as a lifetime 9-2 mark would imply.

Louisville is starting to cruise through what will mark their third consecutive NLCS appearance. The previous two have been barnburners, both culminating in game-seven wins. Last year, the Colonels rallied from a 0-3 deficit to steal the NLCS from Durham.

This season, they await word on their next opponent. A rematch with top-seed Durham or a showdown with contender Omaha--who will now need to go through Toledo, Durham, and Louisville just to make the World Series--waits in the wings.

This morning's series victory over Great Lake St. cannot diminish the dramatic overhaul that has occured in Ottawa this season. From a 79-win also-ran that was just happy to be mediocre enough to win a division title and see the playoffs to the 97-win behemoth that knocked off Toledo in a series sweep, Ottawa has made great strides.

Yet still, they've become yet another rising team that a been-there, done-that Louisville club has feasted upon come playoff time. Ottawa, who was outscored 30-14 in three games against Louisville in the ALDS, has a bright future ahead of it, but the Colonels, until they're topped, remain the undisputed kings of Double Day.

Another season, another playoff run by the Colonels. What else is new?