Southern League cancels series for fear of Hurricane Ivan

SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE - The Southern League on Monday canceled the championship series between Tennessee and Mobile because of Hurricane Ivan.<br> <br> The Tennessee Smokies and Mobile BayBears were named co-champions.<br> <br> Ivan is forecast to make possible landfall this week near Mobile, Ala., where part of the series was scheduled to be played.<br> <br> ``If I was a player in Tennessee and my family was in Mobile, baseball would be the last thing on my mind. For that reason, I knew it was the right decision to cancel this year&#39;s Southern League Championship Series,&#39;&#39; league president Don Mincher said. ``I know this is the safest possible option, and that is what is important at a time like this.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The best-of-five series was scheduled to be begin Monday in Tennessee and then move to Mobile for the third game on Wednesday.<br> <br> The Southern League has canceled the championship only other time. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Huntsville and Jacksonville were named co-champions.