The Edmonton Trappers clinched the Pacific Coast League championship Thursday night with an 8-6 victory over Phoenix.
Edmonton captured its second PCL title with a 3-1 margin in the best-of-five final. The Trappers became the first Northern Division club to win both halves of the regular season, finish with the best overall record and claim both the divisional and the league championship.The Trappers got off to a quick start as they lit up Phoenix starter Bobby Howry for four runs in the bottom of the second. After an RBI single by leftfielder Charles Poe, Edmonton shortstop Scott Sheldon smashed a three-run homer over the left-field wall. The blast was Sheldon's first of the playoffs.
The Firebirds responded, rocking Edmonton's Todd Williams for four in the third. Tim Florez singled to score Ken Woods and Wilson Delgado followed him home when Trapper rightfielder Allen Battle misplayed the ball. Dan Peltier tied the game at 4 as his sharp single to left scored Florez and Dante Powell.
Catcher Creighton Gubanich put Edmonton back on top with an RBI single in the bottom of the third before Torey Lovullo gave the Trappers all the insurance they needed as he ripped a three-run shot over the right-field wall off Phoenix reliever Julian Heredia in the fourth.
Phoenix cut the lead with runs in the fifth and sixth.
The Firebirds loaded the bases in the fifth only to have Edmonton third baseman Scott Spiezio throw out Florez at home.