Moments after high-fives were exchanged near the mound and the brief radio interviews were done, the team rushed to the bus and prepared to motor back to New Britain.

There was no trashed locker room. There was no champagne.

"Champagne is when you win the ring," New Britain manager Stan Cliburn said. "It was great to win the regular-season title. It was great to win the Northern Division, and beating the Yankees (Norwich Navigators) is big. But we're not done yet. There's one more hill to conquer."

The scene was different Saturday night in Central Pennsylvania where the Reading Phillies vanquished the Erie SeaWolves in four games. Winning pitcher Franklin Nunez was carried off the field and a clubhouse celebration ensued.

The Rock Cats just got on the bus.

"We had a little meeting. They played that little song "One More Time" which has become their theme song. It was real

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subdued," Cliburn said. "We got home and everybody went their separate ways. It will be different if we win the overall title."

LOOKING AHEAD: The Cats will host the first two games of the Eastern League finals at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thursday's game in Reading will begin at 7:05 p.m. (WDRC-1360), as will games on Friday and Saturday, if necessary, in the best-of-five format.

Reading will go with four right-handers beginning with Brett Myers (13-4, 3.87 ERA), who will be facing Cats righty Juan Rincon (14-6, 2.88). Game 2 will pit the Phils' Carlos Silva (15-8, 3.90) against Pete Fisher (5-2, 1.89).

Game 3 in Reading will feature the Phils' Brad Baisley (5-4, 6.50) against Cats southpaw Brad Thomas (10-3, 1.96). If Game 4 is necessary, the Phils will go with Nunez (8-7, 4.42) and the Cats will start Kenny Pumphrey (8-2, 2.88).

Neither club is likely to start any one hurler twice in the series.

THE BIGGEST OUT: The moment in Saturday's game that Cliburn called the turning point came with the Navigators at bat in the sixth inning, trailing 4-2 against Pumphrey.

Leading off, Marcus Thames whistled a wicked one-hopper at Michael Cuddyer that rattled out of the third baseman's glove for an error. Paul Ottavinia, who had hit safely in his previous four at-bats, came to the plate representing the tying run.

Pumphrey fell behind in the count 2-0 and Cliburn sent twin brother/pitching coach Stu Cliburn out to discuss the situation with his starter.

"I told Stu to go out there and tell him to attack the zone," Stan said. "If he hits a two-run homer, we're tied and we're still in the (ballgame)."

Ottavinia hit the ball sharply to slick-fielding shortstop Tony Stevens who sprinted to the second-base bag and fired to first for a double play.

"That's the key to the ballgame," Cliburn said. "(Ottavinia's) hot. He's 2-for-2. He hits into a double play and that's the game. We sailed from there."

Pumphrey walked the next hitter John Rodriguez and Stan replaced him with Micheal Nakamura. Julio Mosquera, behind in the count, smoked one off Cuddyer's glove and into foul territory for a double that put they tying runs in scoring position.

Nakamura got Michel Hernandez, who had homered in the third inning, to ground out to Stevens. Nakamura set down the Navs in order in the seventh and eighth. Saul Rivera retired the side 1-2-3 to give the Cats the victory.

CUDDYER SEALS IT: Cuddyer's solo homer with one out in the seventh inning ripped the heart out of the Navs.

Cuddyer, who was hit by a pitch on the knuckles of his right hand in his final at-bat Friday, said he would have taken a few days off if it had happened during the regular season. He was concerned about his ability to generate power with his top hand so sore but adrenaline kicked in.

The humble Virginian preferred to talk about the pitching.

"That's the reason we've won this yer - our starting and relief pitching," he said. "We've done a little hitting here and there but our pitching keeps them from scoring and that's the way you win games."

STUMP PAYS RESPECTS: Losing doesn't sit well with Stump Merrill and Stan was wondering if he'd hear from the veteran Navs skipper afterward the game.

"(Minor league field coordinator Steve Liddle) told Stu that Stump and (Twins manager) Tom Kelly went one on one in the Southern League once. Kelly won and Stump didn't come over and shake his hand," Stan said. "Stump came over and congratulated me and it meant a lot. He showed me a lot of respect."