Area III Playoff Change?

Word on the streets are Area III changed playoff format from Series Format to Double Elimination bracket. Sort of hope this is a rumor, kinda liked the old system. Anyone have any info? I will find out this week, hopefully, but until then......

 

It is true, there will an A bracket and a B bracket with the winner of each facing off for the Area III championship.

 

Why would they change this? There is a reason Area III has won the State the past 2 years and gone to the World Series! Why Change?!?

 

18-man rosters must be set before the first game with a June 1st deadline(new rule). Old format the regular season would start May 20 and end on June 25. High school finals are June 3 & 4. Old scenario a legion team with HS teams in finals must move games to avoid not making the playoffs or play with what you have. If your HS playoff guys meet or exceed 10 then you must move those games or forfeit them at $200 a piece. There were about 9 games on the original schedule before June 5th. HS playoff kids play June 4th in HS finals and start Legion June 5th. All games must be in by June 25th under the old format so that team has 20 days to play 18 league games the 9 scheduled and the 9 makeup dates. Math doesn't work for old format so hats off to the Area III Commissioner for adjusting to the conditions. BTW...only possible reasons to replace someone on the roster is death or your roster drops below 12 players.

 

Personally, I preferred series-play because I feel it better shows which is the best team.

However in recent years it seems that the national dates have moved up a little each year, I guess it just got to where it was impossible to get all the playoff games in under the old format.

 

I would rather see a series playoff format as well. I do understand it takes longer however. If you cut back to top four qualify, then Kernersville does not get the chance to go to Spokane for the Little WS, so thats not an option. Not a fan of bracket play, best team does not always win, but I guess there are not many options with the date deadlines everyone has to meet.

By the way, Area III is on a big win streak. They have sent the last two representatives to the Little World Series.(Rowan 2009, and Kernersville 2010) I think that is pretty remarkable.

 

TJ, you are correct on compressed dates. Also, the restriction of setting your roster at FINAL 18 prior to first game meant a later start of regular season. Also, no more moving up Junior players to fill rosters while HS teams are in playoff or beach week.

I think someone said the commissioner made this change, well not exactly correct. He proposed 2 plans, 1 basically as always was and the other one going to double elimination, as all levels above Area III already adopts. It was put to a vote of all teams and the vote was not even close, I believe 14-6.

I do like the fact that the commissioner let the Area III teams decide.