The biggest division in the MSL has turned out to be the most drama-filled on the field as well. With 19 teams vying for two GSWS berths, the competition has been ramped up the last few weekends. With only eight league games remaining on the schedule and very little separation between the top teams, the race for first place looks like it will come down to the final weekend of league play.

In the Eastern Conference, the second-place Dragons (7-3) will take a shot at the conference-leading Legal Eagles (9-1) in hopes of cutting into their two-game lead. The two teams played earlier in the season with the Legal Eagles winning 9-8. Also, the Wave and Swallows (both 6-4) play in a match up of third-place teams. Finally, the Herricanes will try to keep their two-game win streak alive against the Dream Team and Angels.

In the Western Conference, a key game this weekend pits the Bam Bams (7-3) against the Xtremes (8-2). Each team is riding a win streak of three and five games respectively, so look for one team's win streak to end when they meet on Sunday. Both teams hope to keep pace with the conference-leading Vipers (9-1) who play the Bud Light (7-3) and Predators (6-4).

The is only one all B Division game when the Hellraisers (2-4) and Hellcats (5-1) meet for the fourth time this year. The Hellcats lead the season series 2-1 with the Hellraisers taking the middle game.

The remaining B Division games are against the C Division teams. Each C team will be looking for an all-important win and half-game on the other C teams. The Venom (3-4-1) gave the Outlaws (3-3) quite a scare in their first meeting, so they will not catch the Outlaws napping this time. Also, the Professionals (4-3-1) are very familiar with the Hellraisers after playing each other many times the past few years in the C Division. Finally, the Clippers (4-4) will play a doubleheader against the Hellcats. The C teams are looking for their first win against the B teams who are a combined 6-0 against the C teams.

Week 6 marks the beginning of the second half of the MSL season with only four weekends left of league play. There will be no games next weekend (Mother's Day) and league play resumes on May 18.

For the second straight weekend, all three teams in the C Division split games with a 1-1 record. The Venom started the day with a rare shutout and 4-0 win over the Professionals. However, the Venom ran into a determined Clippers team and dropped the second game 9-6. In the final game, the Clippers rallied to tie the game 6-6 before the Professionals scored in their last at bat to win 7-6. The Professionals maintain a half-game and one-game lead over the Clippers and Venom. This race appears to remain a close one with four weeks left.

The Hellcats exacted some revenge in the only all B Division matchup. The Hellcats jumped out to an early 14-1 lead and cruised to a 22-5 win over the Hellraisers. In their first game of the day, the Hellraisers came out hot and built an early 13-6 lead over the A Division Force. However, the Force would score 8 runs in their last two at bats to win 14-13. Later, the Force won a hard-fought game against the Outlaws 11-7 to run their record to 2-0 against the B Division. The Hellcats and Outlaws gained a win over the A Division when Southern Comfort forfeited both their games. The Hellcats now have a two-game lead over the Outlaws with a 5-1 record.

This was the first weekend for inter-conference play in the D Division. The Vipers and Legal Eagles both swept their compeition and improve to 9-1 and maintain conference leads.

In the Western Conference, the Xtremes kept pace with the Vipers in the by winning both their games to remain one game behind the Vipers. The Bam Bams also went 2-0 to improve to 7-3, and they are now in a two-way tie for third place with the Bud Light.

In the Eastern Conference, the Dragons are alone in second behind the Legal Eagles with a 7-3 record. The Warriors and Swallows dropped both their games to fall into a three-way tie for third place with the Wave. Besides the Legal Eagles, the Herricanes and Splash won both their games this weekend.

Also, the Diablitas won their first game of the season with a spirited 10-6 win over the Dream Team.

Week 5 of the MSL season is sure to be a big one. Conference powers from the Eastern and Western Conferences meet in the D Division, including match ups of the teams who finished in the upper echelon of their respective divisions. The Vipers and Legal Eagles both stand atop their conferences at 7-1; however, they do not play each other until Week 7. Will they both be on top when they face off in Week 7, or will one of the teams hot on their trail catch them?

In the C Division, the Professionals will try to maintain their slim lead over the Clippers and Venom. This weekend marks the halfway point for the C Division and all the three teams are still vying for the top spot and a World Series berth.

There is one B Division matchup with the Hellraisers trying to make it two in a row against the division-leading Hellcats. The remaining B games involve match ups against the A Division Force and Southern Comfort. When the B and C Divisions met, the B teams made it a clean sweep. Can the A teams make it a higer-division sweep, or can one of the B teams pull off an upset and gain a half-game on the other B teams?

It should be another exciting weekend of MSL action at Slo-Pitch City.

Week 4: No More Undefeated Teams