SANFORD — Every team wants to be playing its best as the playoffs come into view just around the bend. The Sanford Mainers, defending champions of the NECBL, are no different.

But wait. Playoffs?

Did somebody say playoffs?

The streaking Mainers answered that question, loudly, Monday, with a double-header sweep over the Lowell All-Americans, 3-2 and 8-4, at Goodall Park.

Sanford secured a post-season berth ”“ the sixth in its eight year history ”“ after winning the opener.

“We’re starting to get on a roll, right now,” said Mainers outfielder Kyle Groth, one of just three Mainers held over from last year’s title winners. “It’s good to see. We’re coming together as a team. I think we’ve got a good shot in the playoffs.”

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Mainers (currently second in the East Division) are likely to face the North Shore Navigators (currently in third) in the best of three opening round, to begin next week.

“If you can just get to the playoffs,” said Mainers’ manager Aaron Izaryk, “you can get two pitchers get hot and then you’re in the next round. That’s been our goal all year. Now we want to get home field advantage, and play twice at home in the first round.”

Sanford received strong starting pitching performances from righthanders Chad O’Connor and Will Clinard, two hurlers who don’t figure in Izaryk’s playoff rotation.

Mainers first baseman Mike Roth enjoyed a sensational day at the plate, going a combined 5-for-7 with four RBI.

All of it served to help the Mainers extend their winning streak to a season high six games.

“I’m really confident in our team, right now,” said Groth. “We have a real good pitching staff. Better than last year, and we had a solid staff last year. We’re playing good defense now. We’re hitting well. I feel good about our team.”

In the opener, Roth’s two-run single in the bottom of the third helped stake Sanford to a 3-1 lead.

Lowell had nicked O’Connor for a run in the top of the third.

However, Sanford’s response was swift.

The Mainers bunched together one-out singles by Ethan Wilson, Adam DuVall, and Mark Micowski, which knotted the score at 1-1.

“It was the first time we got runners on base,” said Roth. “The first couple innings we couldn’t get anybody on. We finally pressed the pitcher (righthander Rob Nicholas) and got some pitches to hit.”

One out later Roth lashed a low liner into right field, which brought in both DuVall and Micowski and put Sanford ahead.

“I’ve struggling this past week,” Roth said. “Just trying to get the barrel on the ball, and slide it between the first and second baseman. A few inches either way, it would have been an out. I was lucky enough to get it through the hole.”

Lowell tallied once more in the fifth to draw to within a run.

However, the Mainer infield turned a double-play in the sixth to quell one mild trouble spot.

Then, after a half hour rain delay, Sanford closer Tyler Mizenko retired the All-Americans in order to nail down the win.

Sanford started swiftly in the nightcap, plating three first inning runs while knocking out Lowell starter Neil Gesek.

Roth’s toted his hot bat into the nightcap, knocking in two more runs in the top of the first inning against Lowell starter Neil Hesek, who didn’t surive the inning.

Clinard, who made just his third start in 10 appearances, limited the All-Americans to just one hit through five innings, as his mates ripped open a 7-1 lead.

A fifth inning sacrifice fly by Groth accounted for one of those runs.

Lowell made matters interesting by scoring three times in the top of the sixth, to draw to within 7-4.

However, Sanford capped the scoring in the sixth when Dylan Pratt singled in Roth, who had reach on a “hustle” double.

“(We’re) getting rewarded for working hard,” said Izaryk. “They’re coming to the park every day and working hard. That’s something you assume in this league. But not all teams do it. This isn’t happening by fluke.”

CHIN MUSIC: Mainer right fielder Chris Spatkowski was named the NECBL’s Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. Spatkowski, a speedy junior from Pace University, entered play yesterday hitting an eye-popping .632 in eight appearances with the club”¦Taking in the double-dip was Kevin Reimer, a catcher who was a key player in Sanford’s championship run. “It’s seems strange watching from the stands,” said Reimer, who spent the season back home in Steinbach, Man. Reimer met his fiancee last year while in Sanford, and the two will marry, here, in September”¦ Sanford will continue its regular season ending home stand tonight (6:35 p.m.), when the Holyoke Blue Sox will visit Goodall Park. Righthanders Matt Murray and Kenny Monteith both will see action, as Izaryk sets up his pitching for the playoffs.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.