How big is the game against Armena tonight for the Rebels, who are currently 2 points ahead of the Royals in the standings? "I think we have to go in tonight and treat it like a playoff game, maybe even an elimination game in the playoffs" said Rebel OF Kris Kushnerick. 

With a win the Rebels would move 4 points up on the Royals and 2 points ahead of the Bardo Athletics, who lost last night in extra innings 6-5 against the Milleteers. A quick scan of both the Rebels and Royals remaining schedule shows the importance of the 2 points up for grabs tonight;

Ryley Rebels: vs. Bardo, @ Leduc, @ Tofield, @ Camrose, @ Bardo

Armena Royals: @ Tofield, @ Camrose, vs. Leduc, vs. Camrose, vs. Bardo, vs. Tofield, @ Leduc

Armena has 2 games more then the Rebels to play and 2 of those games are against the 0-10 Tofield Lakers who have not shown any signs of life in what has turned out to be a tough season after somewhat of a promising campaign last year (5-9 and 2 points out of a playoff spot). So with 4 points almost guaranteed against the Lakers (hopefully this puts a jinx on the Royals and the Lakers pull out a victory in one or both of the games), the Rebels need this victory tonight to stay even with the Royals going into the final stretch of the season. 

Of course there is another scenario given the manner in which the Bardo Athletics have been playing of late with their on again, off again offense and defense, and that is both the Armena Royals and Ryley Rebels make the playoff while the Athletics are the ones sitting at the dance without a partner. The Athletics are however known to pull this once in awhile, and they usually bounce back to finish out the year strong (they have not finished out the year with a losing streak since 2005). We will all find out in less then a month.