1.   After his team had clinched, Oates made positioning his starting rotation and resting his regulars his top priorities.

2.   Both teams clinched a spot in the championship game with victories Thursday.

3.   In a setting hardly fitting the accomplishment, the U.S. soccer team clinched a return trip to the World Cup Sunday.

4.   The team can clinch a playoff berth tonight with a victory against Wichita.

5.   The thick, magazine-sized playoff guide was ready this week, even though he had waited until the team had clinched to put on the final touches.

6.   The team virtually clinched a playoff berth before summer, but it was no longer dominant.

7.   Though victory was inevitable and conditions deplorable, Patriot fans wanted to be there when the team clinched a playoff spot.

8.   Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, whose team clinched the NL East title Sunday, held four regulars out of the starting lineup.

9.   Both teams already have clinched semifinal berths.

10.   Both teams clinched their respective division titles.