Kernels draw Clinton in playoffs

We finally know who the Cedar Rapids Kernels will play in the first round of the Midwest League baseball playoffs. It’ll be the Clinton LumberKings opposing Cedar Rapids in a best-of-3 series that begins Wednesday night at Clinton.

Game 2 and if necessary Game 3 will be Thursday and Friday nights at Veterans Memorial Stadium with 6:35 first pitches.

A Kernels win Sunday at Beloit eliminated the Snappers from playoff contention and wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Western Division’s second half for the Kane County Cougars. Quad Cities won the division but had already qualified for the postseason via a second-place finish in the first half behind the Kernels.

Those two meet in the other Western Division first-round series.

Clinton gets in despite a possible fourth-place division finish in the second half. The LumberKings are 37-32 and have lost three straight going into Monday’s regular-season finale.

Clinton has a 74-64 overall record to Cedar Rapids’ 81-56. The LumberKings won seven of the 13 meetings between the clubs.

Ariel Pena is expected to the Game 1 starter for the Kernels, with Buddy Boshers getting the ball in Game 2.