Reduce teams that qualify for playoffs??

In reviewing the scores from the first round of the softball playoffs (I'm referring to 4A West only) it appears like there should be some consideration for reducing the number of teams that qualify. Before you respond by stating that every girl needs the opportunity to participate, let me state my evidence. Here are scores from the first round in 4A West:

10 - 1
15 - 0
15 - 0
16 - 0
14 - 0
17 - 0
15 - 0
12 - 0
15 - 0
25 - 0
9 - 1

There were a grand total of 4 competitive games, with scores of 8 - 7, 2 - 0, 3 - 2, and 3 - 2.

While I am a firm believer that as many teams as possible should participate, at some point, it just doesn't make any common sense, or especially now, financial sense. Most of the teams on the losing end of those lopsided contests, had to travel a pretty decent amount of miles, with very few fans or parents in tow.

I know I will get tons of feedback from fellow TBR'rs on this post, and that is what I'm looking for. Do you agree that the number of teams needs to be reduced, or are you fine with the mostly uncompetitive nature of the games in round 1? I think there should be a max of 3 guaranteed spots from each conference. I also feel that if a team can't at least achieve a .500 record, they should not qualify. Some of the conferences are getting as many as 5 teams or more into the playoffs, and I feel that there is no need for that.

Now, I'm going to sit back and see what the rest of you all think. Thanks.

 

Every girl gets the chance to participate FPitch99...it's called the regular season. I totally agree with your post. There are way too many teams in the playoffs. What good can come from a team riding 3 hours on a bus to take a 20-0 blasting from a #1 seed? If you don't have a .500 record you should not be in the playoffs.

 

hah

but little Suzy still gets to put on her resume for college that she played on a playoff team.

 

32 team field

A few years ago it was just a 32 team field, and three games to get to Raleigh.
I would like to see it get back to that again. Teams with records of 7 - 14 or the like should not be in playoffs The NCHSAA wants to cut spending this a way to do it (in all sports)and make the sport better. Playoffs should be for the top three or four teams in each Conf.

 

Ill add one from 3A West and then shut up about it..... NPC 5 North Iredell-3 MAC no.1 seed Enka-1........ And we traveled 2 hours to play and would now drive to the moon to play another. ... Guess I'm just pointing out the flip side.

 

I am in total agreement with this idea and mentioned it in recently in the future of softball thread. Yeah, some teams had some close calls last night and every now and than there will be an upset, but look at the teams that make it to Walnut Creek. It's almost always a 1 or 2 seed. I don't think any 3 or lower seeds made it there last year.

 

I totally agree. Back when i was in high school 6 years ago, it actually meant something if you made states, now it seems like everyone makes it. There was a team with a 3-13 record and they proceeded to get beat 25-0. I am not sure about anyone else, but if i lost 25-0 i would be devastated. I wouldn't walk out of there happy just because i got a chance to play in the state playoffs. Of course there can be upsets, just like the Enka game, but that is very rare.

 

So the majority of the time it's a 1 or 2 seed that makes the final four and there are less and less big upsets in the NCAA...sooo we should reduce it to 32 teams also(must be Carolina or Duke fans)...after all whos interested in upsets. Saw a 7-10 team in 1A i think that blew out a team w/ a winning record in another conference last night. What about SW Guilfords run to the final 8 last year as the 4 seed in our conference. Not all for the let as many in as possible but to me the chance of an upset(ala N. Iredell this year or AC's loss last year) is worth the one extra game.

 

I AGREE

FPITCH99, I totally agree. Lets keep it simple........I posted earlier that the reg season or conf tourny champ if the conf has a tourney at the end, should be the "only" one to go. Then there would be NO sandbagging during the reg season or the conference tournament. If there is a tie during reg season a 1 game playoff to find out who is going. No more guess work or hoping that you will be .500 at the end. Then your kid will leave it all on the field. Even if there is a dual conference. A 1A/2A.. The top 1A and top 2A teams move on. But my idea would get shot down also.... NOT PC

 

I don't disagree with the thread. I will say however, that some of the teams still get in even if the old format was used. There is one conference that received three spots. The scores for their games were 3-2 win, 15-0 loss, and a 25-0 loss. Those teams get in under the old format as well. There's probably no way to guarantee that mismatches won't happen regardless of the format.