The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers celebrate winning the Midwest League Western Division Championship, their first since 2005. (Photo by Ann Mollica/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are this year’s Midwest League Western Division Champions, in no small part because of the stellar pitching they’ve stifled their opponents with throughout the postseason.

Mark Williams was the latest Wisconsin starting pitcher to fit that bill, throwing eight strong innings Sunday to lead the Timber Rattlers to a 4-2 win over the Clinton LumberKings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out five and didn’t walk any batters.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers SP Mark Williams on the mound in Peoria last month.

In May, Williams combined with Chad Thompson (Saturday’s winning pitcher) to throw a no-hitter against the LumberKings.

In Sunday’s game, the Timber Rattlers offense was led by Nick Ramirez, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double. Brandon Macias and Adrian Williams also drove in runs for Wisconsin.

Timber Rattlers 1B Nick Ramirez chats with Chiefs player-coach Kenny Socorro between innings in Peoria earlier this year.

The Timber Rattlers will host the first two games of the Midwest League Championship Series on Wednesday and Thursday. They will play the winner of Game 3 of the Eastern Division Championship Series.

That game will be played Monday night after the Lake County Captains evened their series with the Fort Wayne TinCaps with a 7-4 win at Classic Park. Lake County’s Bryson Myles had three hits and Jordan Smith drove in a pair of runs. Winning pitcher Louis Head threw three scoreless innings in relief, giving up only one hit and striking out two.

Fort Wayne’s Lee Orr had two hits, including a solo homer.

Game 3 is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EST at Lake County’s Classic Park. The pitching matchup will be Captains RHP Cody Anderson vs. TinCaps RHP James Needy.

Classic Park during Game 2 of the MWL Eastern Division Championship Series (Photo by Justin Lada)