NPC Conference Tournament

Wanted to provide my final update related to the NPC conference tournament:

To reiterate, the North Piedmont Conference tournament was cancelled this year and has already been cancelled for next year. The reason being given is that, with the addition of two schools (East Rowan and South Rowan) to the NPC, there are too many schools and games to logistically get everything in before the State playoffs begin. Based on this reasoning, one can only assume that the decision to cancel the conference tournament will be a long-term decision as long as the number of schools remains high. This problem appears to only affect baseball and softball.

As a follow up, I did communicate with the Deputy Director of Realignment regarding this matter. This was the response I received when asked how other large conferences are handling similar situations and whether the conference might be realigned sometime soon:

The decision to eliminate the conference tournament is regrettable, but one that we cannot control. I checked with the Smoky Mountain conference, and unfortunately all 11 schools do not play softball or baseball. If they did, what I was told is that they would have 2 play in games with 7, 8, 9, and 10 at the end of one week. The winners move into th bracket for the next week so that you could get all the games in and still have room to play the fist round of the state playoffs in the next week. You could even play the play in and round 1 at the end of one week--Friday and Saturday for example, and then play the semis and finals the next week.


As to realignment, we simply will see how the schools' ADMs come out and then go from there. It is difficult for me to say that the NPC will be split next realignment.


The other information I've received, and I'm not able to confirm, is that baseball is likely highly in favor of this decision because it allows them to rest their pitchers prior to the beginning of the State playoffs. With the State imposed limits on the number of innings pitched, this helps baseball.

 

great feedback and appreciated!

so much can be accomplished during "tourney time".....with or without it!