TROY, NY - The 2012 Tri-City ValleyCats have captured the New York-Penn League Stedler Division title, and a berth into the playoffs. The ValleyCats currently have the best record in the league, three games better than McNamara division leader Hudson Valley Renegades.

This is the fourth time in their 11-year existence that they have won their division. In 2004, current major leaguers Ben Zobrist, Hunter Pence and Drew Sutton helped lead the 'Cats to a 50 win season, the most in ValleyCats history. That year, the 'Cats defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones in the first round, but lost to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the championship.

2006 brought another Stedler Division title to Troy, a team that included current major leaguers Chris Johnson, Brian Bogusevic and Bud Norris. That year, the 'Cats lost once again in the championship round, this time to the Staten Island Yankees.

In 2010, the ValleyCats won their first New York-Penn League Championship, sweeping the series against the Brooklyn Cyclones. That year, the 'Cats were 9.5 games out of first place on July 19, but came back to win the division on the final day of the regular season, in Brooklyn.

This year the ValleyCats are the first team in the New York-Penn League to clinch a playoff spot. The 'Cats lead the league in almost every offensive category including batting (.279), runs (353), hits (566), home runs (37), RBI (37), slugging (.397) and on-base percentage (.360). The 'Cats are second in the league in pitching with a team ERA of 2.78, behind Brooklyn's 2.56.