Kernels clinch No. 1 seed with dramatic win
Those champagne-style bottles with the long necks had cider in them instead of the real stuff, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels were too happy to care about the contents as they celebrated in their locker room Wednesday night.
All they wanted to do was spray everyone in sight, smear thick icing on their teammates and enjoy the special moment.
The Kernels clipped Kane Country, 3-2, in 11 innings before 2,005 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium to claim a No.1 seed for the Midwest League playoffs that start next Wednesday night at home against Burlington.
Those playoff tickets are now on sale.
The cider in those long-necked bottles tasted very, very sweet. There was no alcohol to be found in the clubhouse.
"We're still a young club, so we don't have everybody that's 21 yet," explained Tanner Vavra, who scored the winning run with a terrific slide. "We have to play it safe."
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