The table is set for the 2024 Atlantic League’s League Championship Series. The North Division champion York Revolution will meet the South Division champion Charleston Dirty Birds in a best-of-five series that starts on Tuesday, September 24.
After two games in Charleston, the series shifts to WellSpan Park in York for games three through five running Friday through Sunday.
Charleston has reached the championship series for the first time since joining the Atlantic League in 2021. The Dirty Birds took out Gastonia in four games to win the South Division Championship Series last week. The Birds were led by Division Series MVP Stevie Ledesma who earned wins in relief in both Game 1 and Game 4 of the series vs. Gastonia. He was 2-0 over 7.1 innings and did not allow a run while yielding four hits, four walks and striking out seven.
York owns three ALPB titles, winning in 2010, 2011 and 2017. The Revs reached the Championship Series this year with a 3 games to 1 series win over Lancaster. Outfielder Alerick Soularie was named the North Division MVP after hitting .538 (7-for-13) vs. Lancaster with a pair of home runs, a double, triple and six RBI.
While the Dirty Birds are making their first LCS appearance, York has won all three of its prior appearances in the Championship Series. The Revs swept Bridgeport 3-0 to win the title in 2010, toppled Long Island 3-1 in 2011 and then swept the Ducks again in 2017. York is 9-1 all-time in LCS games.
During the regular season, York took four of six games from the Dirty Birds though the two clubs last met on June 6.
York swept three games at WellSpan Park on May 28-30 with Jon Olsen, Moises Lugo and Michael Horrell each earning a win. None of Charleston’s pitchers from that first series remain with the club.
In the return series at GoMart Park, Charleston took two of three games with Cristofer Ogando and Edison Suriel each earning a win. Former Dirty Bird Clint Frazier provided a thrilling walk-off win with a ninth inning double in the first meeting before the ‘Birds posted a dominating 19-5 win in the series finale when they overcame a 5-2 deficit with a nine-run fifth inning outburst.
Lancaster has kept the Atlantic League Championship in the North Division for the past two seasons. The last South Division club to win the title was the 2021 Lexington Legends, piloted by manager P.J. Phillips who is again at the helm of Charleston. Phillips has a 5-2 overall playoff record, having dispatched Charleston 2-1 in the 2021 South Division Series before topping Long Island 3-1 in the League Championship Series.
York manager Rick Forney is in his second year with the Revs and is making his first appearance in the Atlantic League playoffs. But in his 17 years managing the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the American Association, Forney won three titles (2012, 2016, 2017) and was a two-time Manager of the Year.
ALPB 2024 League Championship Schedule
Tuesday, September 24
York at Charleston, 6:35
Wednesday, September 25
York at Charleston, 6:35
Friday, September 27
Charleston at York, 6:30
Saturday, September 28 (if necessary)
Charleston at York, 6:30
Sunday, September 29 (if necessary)
Charleston at York, 2:00