There's a reason the phrase "survive till September" means something in independent league baseball. Though the United League has already completed its playoff tournament (the Amarillo Dillas capitalized on their 50-win season with four more wins in five postseason games, including the 7-4 victory over the Alexandria Aces pictured above that sealed the title) and the Atlantic League is still three weeks away from such action (very, very fitting that this usually entertaining playoff tourney is saved for last), this is still the most ripping week for big games around the horn.

So before summer ends, and while college football has no problem dominating attention, there is still no doubt these games have a compelling feel that can't be duplicated in August or July. I found out during last year's Chico-Long Beach GBL title series.

A look at what's in store this week:

*In the American Association, Grand Prairie (Texas) AirHogs and Sioux Falls (S.D.) Canaries are facing off in the grand final series. It is 1-1 after last night's 6-3 Grand Prairie win. Sioux Falls has been able to prove this season that a team outside of St. Paul can be a dominant North Division force in the AA, but manager Steve Shirley and the boys need to truly finish the business (win the championship) to truly rile up the fan-friendly Birdcage. The place should be rocking when the series resumes tomorrow night.

*In the Can-Am League, four teams are left and the star of the show remains the Quebec Capitales. Their success, unmatched around the indy league national scene, has been documented here on the blog quite a bit this summer. And the Capitales got their playoff campaign started with a riveting ballgame against the stingy Atlantic City Surf in a Sandy Koufax special ... a 1-0 victory in 12 innings. In the other CAL division final, the Worcester (Mass.) Tornadoes took down the Sussex (N.J.) Skyhawks 3-2 in Game 1.

*In the Frontier League, action starts tomorrow in both division title series. The Gateway (Ill.) Grizzlies take on the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Kings, one of three 60-win teams in the FL this season. The other two meet in what looks like a close battle -- the Windy City (Ill.) Thunderbolts versus the Southern Illinois Miners.

*The Golden Baseball League tournament, as has been discussed prevalently here and will continued to be covered, is a rivalry festival. The Calgary Vipers' 8-2 win over the Edmonton Cracker Cats last night made it a 2-0 series in the North Division final; the Orange County Flyers, determined to keep this year's destiny flavor rich, encountered resistance in extra innings against the Long Beach Armada. Both the Canadian clash and battle for Los Angeles continue this weekend.

*The Northern League has also had some close games ring in its playoff schedule. The Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Gary Southshore Railcats 7-6 last night to even the series 1-1. It is indy power Winnipeg's eighth division title series appearance in the past 14 years (with merely one league championship coming during that span ... yikes). The Fargo-Moorhead (N.D.) Redhawks-Kansas City T-Bones series remained 1-0 in KC's favor because of weather problems. Game 2 has been rescheduled for tonight.

So hey, the stage is set.

PHOTO COURTESY: whaddyathinkin.blogspot.com/