Majority of coaches polled against open tourney
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
With just a few days remaining in the baseball and softball regular seasons, some local teams are still trying to push their way into the playoffs.
The WPIAL, though, may make it easier as a decision looms early next week on what the format for the baseball and softball playoffs will look like.
The WPIAL is considering an open tournament, mirroring the basketball playoffs this past winter.
The league sent surveys to member schools earlier this week and will take the results into consideration when deciding if the playoffs will remain with the top four teams in each section qualifying, or whether the tournament will open up for any interested teams.
While some teams have had shutdowns due to COVID-19 protocols, the weather this past week has put teams in a bind when it comes to making up rained-out games.
The WPIAL also stands ready to adjust the way teams qualify for the playoffs, but only if absolutely needed. Traditionally, the top four teams and any unbreakable ties qualify for the playoffs from every baseball and softball section.
So, for now, the WPIAL is first seeking an accurate count of how many games teams expect to complete before the regular season ends.
“We’ll look at what hasn’t been completed and what won’t be completed before even having that conversation (about playoff qualifiers),” WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said. “We’ll talk about the playoffs in general, but we need to see where teams are before we make a decision.”
Locally speaking, a majority of coaches are not in favor of an open tournament.
“Basketball being indoors was different in my opinion,” Frazier softball coach Don Hartman said. “I was in favor of that. I say no, just because the weather could really cause a lot of issues with so many teams playing in an open bracket.”
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