Major Announcement by NCHSAA concerning Regional Playoffs

Just got a media advisory from NCHSAA. All games will be played at the higher seed instead of traveling to other teams field for game 2

 

Wow...I don't understand the thought process

 

This is

 

This was announced to the coaches last July at the coaches' clinic in Greensboro. According to Que, it had to do with all the rain that affected so many of the regional series last season. For example, South Stanly and Cherryville, as many of you all remember played one game at one site, and then traveled to the other site on the same day to play a second game. They wanted to take care of this possibility because of rain. However, in doing so, they've placed a potentially very heavy burden on the traveling team.

 

I've got mixed emotions about this one. For one, too bad the NCHSAA can't seed by strength of schedule rather than conference. Take 2A East Rutherford as an example. 2 losses. 1 to TC Roberson- still in the 4A bracket. The other loss was in a split with Patton- lost in the fourth round 3A bracket . Should a team with those credentials be "rewarded" with the western finals at home or should they have to make a road trip to Surry? Sure, Surry made the finals with 8 losses but should they get a home game? No idea who they played. Just playing devil's advocate. Nothing at all against Surry.
Secondly, by playing at 2 sites are we taking the 'heavy burden' off the traveling team and placing it on both teams?

 

Surry Central defeated 29-0 and No. 1 ranked Bunker Hill with Jeremy Null, their ace, pitching at Bunker Hill. Then they beat 28-1 Wilkes Central with their ace pitching. Lost 4 or 5 games (of 8 losses) to 4A and 3A teams. Sounds like they deserve a home game to me.

 

The NCHSAA still hasn't figured out how to run baseball playoffs. Even if it means fewer teams we really need 3 game series to determine the best teams.

 

I agree 100%... after 3 rounds. The seedings have got to change without a doubt! In the 3A West, a #2 seed wins 5 games and a #3 wins 6 games... total, not conference!!! East Rowan lost 2 games all year and then in the playoffs, had to beat the top 4 seeds in the SPC and these were 4 tough games. Just look at the brackets, they tell the story.

 

Neutral Site!!!!!

You really want the Regional Finals to be a showcase then move them to a neutral site. This wiwll also prevent teams from playing at a school whose field may not be up to standards with how baseball should be played when reaching this level. It's a shame that with the size of some of the fields that I have seen in Eastern NC that it can be possible that Regional Championship can be won or lost because of 310 foot pop-up that would be an out on any "regular" fields, i.e. the field like the state championship will be played on. If you want to truly showcase the talent and see which team is the best, then play the regional finals on a neutral field. Doesn't have to be one of the big D-I school fields either, there are plenty of the smaller schools in the area whose fields are sitting unused at this time. Why not have an Eastern Regional finals at Mt. Olive or Campbell and a Western Regional finals at UNCG or UNCC??? I believe a neutral site Regional Finals would provide a level playing field as well as attract many more fans to the games!!! But hey, what do I know...

 

Who are we "showcasinG"? These are KIDS. Why do they need to be on a pristine field? Let them play on a regular old field with a possible lip and (God forbid) a rock or two.

A decade ago the state finals were played at the determined home team's field. Somebody won and somebody lost - but the next day everybody still got up and kept breathing.

Now we need a neutral pro park for regionals. Why don't we just play all high school games at a pro park? Why? Becuse these are NOT pros! These are kids who have a favorite group, a girl they are ga-ga over, and a pimple or two. They don't pay bills or vote or serve. They still need mom to wash their clothes, dad to service the car, and maybe they even still watch a cartoon or two (though it's in prime time now.)

By the way, I don't fault the kids. It's the parents who put their kids lives at break-neck speed to "develop", "be seen", "commit". LIGHTEN UP. They are kids playing baseball, whatever the condition of the lips or distances of the fences.

Stop making it a "stage to showcase on" and let them be kids playing a game. PLEASE!