Final homestand

	Zack Parker 4-6, 4.06 ERA		Jarrett Grube 4-4, 4.19 ERA

Where are they now? A look at how former Barnstormers fared in affiliated ball this summer.

Playoff matchups set

The Barnstormers will conclude their fifth anniversary season with a five-game series against the playoff-bound Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Once it’s over, the focus — if it hasn’t already — will shift toward 2010. This is everyone’s last chance to enjoy baseball at the Clip before the long, cold winter.

Game 135: Stormers 3-0

	Neal Musser 1-2, 4.07 ERA		Brian Adams 13-7, 4.73 ERA

If the Barnstormers are going to reverse their fortunes in 2010, they’ll need to start beating Somerset and Long Island. Lancaster’s record against those rivals is 8-31 this season. Since the Barnstormers entered the league in 2005, the Patriots and Ducks have been perennial playoff teams. The only time one of them failed to reach the postseason was Somerset in 2006, when BASA was running the team’s baseball operations. Those two franchises are the standard for regular season success.

The Barnstormers’ chances of breaking .500 have taken a hit with this three-game losing streak in Bridgewater, N.J. They will have to win each of their final six games to achieve a winning record in the second half.

Standings

Barnstormers stats

Patriots stats

Game 134: Patriots 9-2

	Trey Hodges 5-4, 3.74 ERA		Jim Magrane 14-4, 2.83 ERA

The Barnstormers’ late-season push for the playoffs ran out of steam Monday night. They lost both games of a sort-of doubleheader and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention. This makes it three years in a row and four out of five that Lancaster has failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Soon the off-season questions will be earnestly asked and answered. Will Tom Herr return as manager? Will Bill Bliss be back as pitching coach? Will 2010 end up with a different finish than 2007-09? In the meantime, the Barnstormers will conclude their fifth anniversary season this week. They have seven games remaining before the curtain falls.

Somerset is enjoying a remarkable run. The Patriots are 83-51, tying the Atlantic League record for wins in a season. To put that record in perspective, the Barnstormers’ much-celebrated 2006 championship squad was 75-51. This Somerset team has fared even better, at least in the regular season.

Standings

Barnstormers stats

Patriots stats

Game 133: Patriots sweep (6-3, 9-4)

	Jason Scobie 7-8, 4.58 ERA		Jason Standridge 3-4, 5.16 ERA

The Barnstormers are headed into the final week of their fifth anniversary season. Their playoff hopes are alive, although unlikely, at this point. They trail Long Island by five games with nine to play. The Ducks have seven games remaining on their schedule and are only two back of Southern Maryland in the Liberty Division. A lot remains undecided.

There’s a chance for the Barnstormers to pick up two wins today. In addition to the regularly scheduled game, they and Somerset will resume the suspended game from Aug. 19. The score was tied at 2 with Lancaster about to bat in the bottom of the seventh when rain halted play. Play begins at 5:05 p.m.

Even if they don’t make the playoffs, the Barnstormers can post a winning half for the first time since their championship season. They are 30-31 overall this half and 24-22 since Tom Herr took over as manager.

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Games 131 & 132: Stormers sweep (6-2, 7-1)

	Zack Parker 4-6, 4.07 ERA		Bob Zimmerman 5-4, 4.46 ERA

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Revolution stats

Game 130: Revolution 4-1

	Ben Fritz 5-7, 3.86 ERA		Corey Thurman 4-3, 3.55 ERA

Stormers are …

11-3 in their last 14 games
22-21 under manager Tom Herr
5 games out of a playoff spot with 12 games to play (including suspended game)

Incidentally, the Revs are 12-14 under manager Andy Etchebarren.

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Revolution stats

Game 129: Stormers 7-0

	Neal Musser 0-2, 4.82 ERA		Joe Gannon 9-14, 5.48 ERA

Stormers are …

10-3 in their last 13 games
21-21 under manager Tom Herr
5.5 games out of a playoff spot with 13 games to play (including suspended game)

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Game 128: Stormers 9-1

	Trey Hodges 4-4, 3.93 ERA		Keith Ramsey 7-6, 5.07 ERA

It wasn’t quite as dramatic or thrilling as Aaron Herr’s game-winning homer Friday night, but Monday’s walk-off E-5 — also with Herr at the plate — moved the Barnstormers back within 5.5 games of Long Island for the final playoff spot. The Liberty Division, meanwhile, is quietly in danger of becoming interesting. First-half champ Southern Maryland’s lead is down to four games and the Blue Crabs have lost six in a row.

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Game 127: Stormers 6-5 in 10

	Jason Scobie 7-8, 4.62 ERA		Jarrett Grube 3-1, 3.47 ERA

Because of a scheduling quirk, the Barnstormers will play their final eight home games against the playoff-bound Blue Crabs. Lancaster’s wild-card hopes took a big hit over the weekend. The team slipped to 6.5 games behind Long Island for the final spot. Just for fun, the Aaron Herr walk-off homer video is embedded above.

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Game 126: Ducks 6-5

	Zack Parker 4-5, 3.90 ERA		Randy Leek 9-9, 4.35 ERA

Standings

Wild-card standings (now updated daily at LancasterBarnstormers.com)

Barnstormers stats

Barnstormers vs. Ducks stats