WEEK 6.1 REPORT
AOL, WRC Sweeps Give Vision to Wild-Cards
The two storms that dropped biblical remembrances on the Rockville and Wheaton area Friday night forced postponements at Aspen Hill, Capitalview/Homewood and Wheaton Forest. But on the outer edges of the monsoon, Burning Tree and Layhill, plus Veirs Mill (somehow, and controversially), managed to play Saturday.

	The Press Club got a big day from Ryan Donmoyer's pitching and the bat of Staci Maiers (background).

The result was a badly needed sweep by AOL to take charge of the Burning Tree Division and WRC's double shutout at Veirs Mill, all of which brings some clarity to the wild-card races before the other divisions play their makeups this weekend.

Meanwhile, at Layhill, the Associated Press and National Press Club registered sweeps, with AP finally reaching .500 at 6-6. The two teams are separated by one game—an AP victory in the first round of divisional games—and likely bringing that division race down to Final Day. Still, at 5-7, the Press Club has faint wild-card hopes.

But the real news of the day came from the results at Burning Tree and Veirs Mill, where AOL ended USA Today's winning streak at eight games and took charge of the division. WRC's sweep keeps the Original Peacocks two games back of Veirs Mill Division frontrunner WTTG, which also swept, but the critical victory was 4's 12-0 blanking of the suddenly skidding Philibusters, who have lost four straight and are in growing jeopardy.

By sweeping in its divisions, AOL and WRC brought some distance among division foes USA Today, Washington Times and the Philibusters, which are now vying for wild-cards and need some major upsets of the AOLiens and Originals to catch them. The trickle-down also means—as predicted—the record necessary for the last wild-card berth (or two) is gradually climbing. Two games separate seeds 6-11.

So knowing the results of Saturday's games provides a great amount of drama and pressure for the teams at Capitalview/Homewood and Aspen Hill in their makeups this week. ABC News, CBS News and Discovery Channel are separated by one game for a wild-card at Capitalview. With the Philibusters sliding and AP crawling upward, Atlantic Video is the true wild-card of the wild-cards—a chance to be anywhere from the No. 8 seed to sitting on the fence. Not to mention AV holding some tiebreakers.

	AOL's Brad Parker used a diving stop and throw to record the last out against USA Today.

It will also be a huge test at Wheaton Forest, where the Washington Post clings to the division lead ever so precariously. Post.com, The Gazette and the Express are one good doubleheader from taking the lead.

These Week 6 games are the most important games thus far. That's one reason three sets of games were postponed. These sites were in the center of the bellowing storms. And other than the long maintenance that would have been required (with absolutely no guarantee the umps would have allowed the games to be played anyhow) and the usual need for safety precaution, the Office of the Commish didn't want these critical games played on sloppy fields, in the grass or on adjusted diamonds. We had a rain date in hand, a good advance seven-day forecast and now, higher drama for the playoff races.