The Southern League announced the cancellation of its championship series early Wednesday evening due to the impending uncertainty of Hurricane Irma.
League president Lori Webb said the winners of the North Division series between Chattanooga and Montgomery and the South Division series between Jacksonville and Pensacola will be recognized as co-champions of the 2017 season.
Chattanooga opened the best-of-five North series Wednesday night with a 4-3 triumph at AT&T Field.
"With an abundance of caution, I have made the hard decision to cancel our championship series," Webb said. "Due to concerns for our players' safety, coupled with potential shortages of gas, hotel rooms and other items that may hinder the many evacuees leaving the affected area, it seemed like the right thing to do."
Southern League
The Lookouts were heavily favored to win this season's title after rolling through a 91-49 regular season, which included a 49-21 second half. The record was Chattanooga's best during its time as a member in the Southern League, which was formed in 1964.
Lookouts manager Jake Mauer informed the players before Wednesday's contest.
"The reaction was mixed," Lookouts first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez said. "We're having such a good run, and we're confident that we can win this series. At the same time, this is a reality, and the hurricane looks promising as far as hitting Florida, and the other two teams are from Florida.
"They're in the path and in harm's way, so I think it's good the league took this decision."
Mauer said he wanted to inform his players so that they didn't learn about it on social media.
"It is what it is, and we can't beat Mother Nature, but we still have to get through this series," Mauer said. "The championship series doesn't really matter if we don't get through this one, and it shouldn't change the way we approach these games. Montgomery is a good team, and they know what we like to do.
"Hopefully, we'll keep our focus on what we need to do."
Joe McCarthy opened Wednesday's game with a home run to right field to give the Biscuits a 1-0 lead, but the Lookouts struck for three runs later in the first, including two on a LaMonte Wade single to center. Chattanooga took its biggest lead at 4-1 on J.T. White's homer to right in the fourth inning, but Montgomery pulled within 4-2 entering the ninth and drew two leadoff walks to make the crowd of 1,591 have to stay until Gabriel Moya's final pitch.
This marks the third time the Southern League has canceled its championship series since 2000. Huntsville and Jacksonville were declared co-champions in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, while Mobile and Tennessee were declared co-champs in 2004 due to the threat of Hurricane Ivan.
The league also announced that the third game of the South series would be moved from Jacksonville, as well as games four and five, should they be needed. Pensacola will host the third game, while games four and five would be in Biloxi, Miss.
Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 storm Wednesday night and passed just north of Puerto Rico, where Rodriguez and Lookouts hitting coach Javier Valentin are from.
"My family is going through it right now," Rodriguez said. "Before coming out to the game, I know they were safe, but the category of this hurricane and the 185 mile-per-hour winds are no joke. Everybody is praying that it heads into the Atlantic and doesn't make impact in Florida."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.