A hazy Far West League playoff picture crystallized on Saturday and Sunday, with the Crabs emerging as the regular-season champion and No. 1 seed.
But they needed some help from the team they just played, Seals Baseball. And the Seals obliged, as their 11-0 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Top Speed Baseball gave the the top spot by virtue of a tie-breaker, as the Crabs took three-of-four against Top Speed during the season.
The Crabs will open their FWL title defense Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against the fourth-seeded Menlo Park Legends. The Legends secured their spot by beating the Neptune Beach Pearl on Sunday.
Top Speed will face the third seed, the California Warriors, in the tournament opener at 3 p.m. Friday. For a full tournament schedule, download a PDF of the bracket.
Tickets for the FWL Tournament will only be sold at the Arcata Ball Park beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday. A day pass is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and youth, and gets you into all games on that day. It will be possible to purchase passes for Saturday and Sunday in advance. Please note that as this is a league event, Humboldt Crabs season passes, 10-strips, and single-game tickets are not valid for the tournament.