Joe Schwei, Kyle Mrozek and Jason Nell huddled in a small office underneath the grandstand of Thunder Bay’s stadium, watching a Webcast of a Northwoods League baseball game between Rochester and St. Cloud about midnight Wednesday.

The Mankato MoonDogs had lost that night, but a St. Cloud victory would clinch the MoonDogs’ first postseason berth in this 10th season in the organization’s history. Finally, a two-run homer in the ninth inning by one of the St. Cloud players allowed the MoonDogs’ braintrust to celebrate this long-awaited feat.

“It’s probably not the way we envisioned it happening,” said Mrozek, who’s been the team’s general manager for six seasons. “I couldn’t be happier, there were a lot of high-fives and hugs. I’m sure it will be one of the more memorable moments for me.”

Back at the hotel, the players had gathered around a couple of laptops, and by the time the front office members returned, there was time for another celebration.

“It was a different way to celebrate, there was no dog pile on the field,” Mrozek said. “It was more subdued elation.”

The MoonDogs now have the next 34 games to get ready for the playoffs, which begin Aug. 12. The MoonDogs will face the North Division’s second-half winner in a best-of-3 series Aug. 12-14. The homefield advantage will be determined by which team has the best overall record. The winner of the North Division series will take on the South Division winner in a best-of-3 series Aug. 15-17, with the best overall record again deciding the homefield advantage.

Each team is guaranteed one home game in each series.

Schwei, in his seventh season as owner, was the general manager of the St. Cloud franchise for the previous five seasons, watching the RiverBats win the North Division four times and the league championship twice.

“I don’t feel like we backed in,” he said. “We won the most games in the division for the first half. I was starting to feel like we had a monkey on our backs, I thought we’d have been in the playoffs by now. It’s a big relief to finally get there.”

The second half of the season begins with today’s game at Duluth. If the MoonDogs were to win the second-half championship, the team with the second-best overall record in the division would be the playoff opponent.

“We still have a lot to play for,” Mrozek said. “We want those extra home games. It’s important for our players, and it’s important for our fans. They want to see the games, too.”

Mrozek said by clinching a playoff berth this early, it’s gives the franchise plenty of time to organize and promote the playoff games.

“We all have a competitive streak inside of us,” Mrozek said. “Now, we’re all smiling and relaxed.”