We move into the formal section of the system, with our first look at an actual franchise, the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League.
The Missoula Osprey won it all, defeating the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer League championship, to take the title for the fourth time in team history, despite an apparent piece of beaver sabotage.That was a dramatic improvement on last season, where they went 36-40, and missed out entirely on post-season action. It was their pitching and defense which carried Missoula this season, being the only team in a generally offensively-minded league - helped by a lot of teams playing at altitude - to average conceding fewer than five runs per game.