POMONA, NY- The Rockland Boulders locked down the second seed in the Can-Am Playoffs Sunday night, after dropping a nail-biter to New Jersey, 9-6, at Palisades Credit Union Park. 
    Rockland (58-41) started Brett Palanski (4-2), who struggled to find his grove all night. He allowed a run in all but one of his innings pitched as New Jersey (61-38) hit well. Eddie Newton was the biggest issue, as the shortstop drove in four runs on two home runs against the Rockland starter. Palanski finished with eight earned runs allowed in 4.2 innings pitched. Before the loss, Palanski had won his previous four starts.
    However, the Boulders wouldn’t simply give up the pennant without a fight. After trailing 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Boulders fought back. It started with a controversial call on Marcus Nidiffer. The bases were loaded with two out, when Nidiffer hit a shot that nicked the yellow line along the outfield fence, that would usually mark a homerun. The umpires ruled it a double, and despite pleading by Jamie Keefe, the call stood, costing the Boulders two potential runs. 
    The Boulders still wouldn’t be denied, as the next inning, Quinnton Mack smacked his first homerun in a Boulders uniform, a two-run blast which chased New Jersey starter Isaac Pavlik (8-2). However, that scoring wouldn’t be enough, and the Boulders offense couldn’t capitalize on several other opportunities after Mack’s blast. Mike Fransoso added another solo shot in the bottom of the eighth, but it wouldn’t be enough. Fransoso led the way for the offense, finishing 3-5 with the homer, two runs scored and an RBI. 
    Joey Ravert came in and stabilized the situation for Rockland, tossing two shutout innings in relief of Palanski. Pat Butler would take over for Ravert with two outs in the seventh, but wound up allowing a solo home run to Daniel Rockett in the eighth. Hector Nelo came in for the ninth and threw a shutout inning as well. Fernando Cruz, Robert Stock, Johnny Hellweg, and Jose Jose combined to shut the door on the Boulders in the last few innings after Pavlik was relieved in the sixth inning. Hellweg earned the save. 
    As the number two seed, Rockland will take on the Quebec Capitales in the first round of the Can-Am League playoffs. The first game of the playoffs will start on Wednesday, but that game and Thursday’s will be in Canada. Friday’s Game 3 will be at Palisades Credit Union Park, as well as Game 4 and 5, which would be Saturday and Sunday night respectively, if they are necessary. The series will be best out-of-five games. New Jersey will take on Ottawa in the other playoff series. Game start times are not official yet. 
    Boulder fans still have one more chance to see 2016 regular season baseball in Pomona, on Monday afternoon. It will be Fan Appreciation Day, which will be highlighted by a mini-train giveaway, as well as discounted hotdogs. Tickets are still available for the game, which is slated to start at 2 P.M