By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
The Burlington Bees finally get to experience the postseason in the Prospect League.
The Bees won on the road against the Quincy Doggy Padders 12-2 on Thursday night, clinching the second-half Northwest Division title.
The Bees (33-21) went 21-7 in the second half, winning the division title by 1 1/2 games over the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, who lost to the Clinton LumberKings 7-4 on Thursday.
Burlington will play at Clinton in the divisional championship game at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The Bees, who needed to win or Illinois Valley to lose to clinch the division, led 3-2 after two innings, then pounded the Doggy Paddlers with a six-run eighth inning before adding three runs in the ninth.
Cole Yearsley’s grand slam was the big blow in the eighth inning. It was one of two Bees’ home runs in the game — Corey Boyette hit a solo home run for Burlington’s first run.
Jake Miller went 4-for-4 to lead the Bees. Owen Nowak had three hits. Yearsley and Boyette each had two.
Blake Gaskey was the winning pitcher, striking out eight over seven innings while allowing two runs.
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