MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Carolina League Mills Cup Championship Series is set to begin on Thursday at Coastal Federal Field with a game time of 7:05 PM. The Southern Division Champion Myrtle Beach Pelicans, an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, will play the Northern Division Champion Lynchburg Hillcats, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The best of five series begins with two games, Thursday and Friday, in Myrtle Beach. The Pelicans were 11-and-9 against the Hillcats during the regular season (5-and-5 at home/6-and-4 at Lynchburg).

The Pelicans earned a trip to the finals for the second consecutive season and are defending the championship. Last season, Hurricane Floyd forced the cancellation of the fifth and final game between Myrtle Beach and Wilmington thus determining the first co-championship in the Carolina League's 55-year history. This season, the Pelicans won the first half (42-28) and second half (46-24) earning them a bye to the championship round. Lynchburg defeated Frederick in a best of three playoff series, 2-0, determining the Northern Division winner. The Hillcats finished in last place at the end of the first half (27-43) and first place in the second half (39-29).

The Pelicans ended the regular season with a 2.51 ERA as a team, the lowest in professional baseball. In addition, the Pelicans pitching staff has allowed the fewest hits (908) and walks (382) in the Carolina League. Every other team has given up more than 1000 hits and 400 walks. Their 27 shutouts were the most in pro baseball, too. The Hillcats ended the regular season last in the CL in pitching with a 4.28 ERA. The Pelicans have a league low .237 team batting average while the Hillcats finished the regular season fifth in the league with a .250 batting average. Defensively, the Pelicans were second in the league with a .970 fielding percentage (154 errors) and the Hillcats were last with a .963 fielding percentage (192 errors).

Here are the pitching match-ups for the series:
Thursday in Myrtle Beach, 7:05 PM…gates open at 5:30 PM
MB-Christian Parra (RHP, 17-4, 2.28) vs. LYN-Jason Haynie (LHP, 6-12, 5.52)
Friday in Myrtle Beach, 7:05 PM…gates open at 5:30 PM
MB-Horacio Ramirez (LHP, 15-8, 3.22) vs. LYN-Geraldo Padua (RHP, 4-9, 4.21)
Saturday at Lynchburg, 7:05 PM
MB-Nathan Kent (RHP, 10-6, 2.57) vs. LYN-Mike Gonzalez (LHP, 4-3, 4.66)
Sunday at Lynchburg, 7:05 PM…if necessary
MB-Matt Belisle (RHP, 3-4, 3.43) vs. LYN-Larry Wimberly (LHP, 12-2, 1.88)
Monday at Lynchburg, 7:05 PM…if necessary
MB-Jung Bong (LHP, 3-1, 2.18) vs. LYN-Jose Lopez (RHP, 4-1, 3.11)

The first 1,000 fans through the gates on Thursday night will receive a homer hanky. Tickets can be purchased at the Coastal Federal Field box office, on the Internet at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com or by calling 843-918-6000.