Kernels, Bees get things going in playoff set Saturday

Maybe the Cedar Rapids Kernels will stop the late-inning theatrics and just start winning conventionally. Or maybe they'll just keep inventing ways to win.

You have the feeling they'll keep winning in some manner. After the way it got that two-game sweep of Peoria, this team looks destined to make it to the Midwest League championship series.

It can get there by winning the best-of-3 Western Division championship series against Burlington that begins Saturday at Burlington. Game 2 is Sunday afternoon at 2 in Memorial Stadium.

“We're quite familiar with each other. We played a lot this year,” said Kernels outfielder Matt Crawford. “We've just got to keep our confidence up.”

The Kernels went 8-6 against Burlington in the regular season, winning two of three games at home against the Bees to end the regular season. It'll be right-handers Ryan Chaffee (8-8, 4.33 ERA) and Manuaris Baez in Game 1. Manaurys Correa (8-10, 4.47) gets the ball for the Kernels in Game 2.

Burlington swept first-half division champ Kane County in the first round.

“They've played good this last month, obviously,” said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. “We'll get down there, try to win that first game and go from there.”