Augusta, with their first win of the year (1-10), will play in the 39th District Championship and clinch a spot in the 10th Region Tournament.

Trying to understand the ppl that defend draw but this just discredits the whole theory that this is the best method of post season placement. Very disappointing.

 

And before I get beat on I'm not talking about the kids involved just the situation they are in.

 

This should be the poster child for why seeding should be in place across the state.

IMO...Seeding should be mandated by KHSAA uniformly throughout all 64 Districts. That being said, until that time, aren't school administrators supposed to vote for what they think is best for their programs? Forget all the altruistic arguments of what is best for the game, they are to do what they believe is best for their kids. Simple! Hard to find fault with! That is why I respect Augusta's position and vote. That is also why I respect BC's vote (but, not their position to cancel competitions between these rivals unless they get their way).

 

Don't think this should ever have been a problem. KHSAA should have created uniformity throughout the state years ago. Every team plays according to the same rule book in all sports, exccept for seeding versus draw in District play. This exception makes zero sense to me.

Trying to understand the ppl that defend draw but this just discredits the whole theory that this is the best method of post season placement. Very disappointing.

 

And before I get beat on I'm not talking about the kids involved just the situation they are in.

 

This should be the poster child for why seeding should be in place across the state.

Polaebear98, agree with all your points, and have always thought the draw was a disservice to the overall competition of the sport. That being said, it is tough to spotlight a 12-18 baseball team as the primary evidence of being victimized. The 39th District baseball this year was a trajedy with no school being evenly close to being competitive in a notably weak 10th Region. To spotlight our bad team as being not nearly as bad as Augusta or St. Pat's probably won't gain much traction. Hope you guys have some political influence with KHSAA, because it doesn't appear Mason is climbing out there on your limb to champion your cause.

Polaebear98, agree with all your points, and have always thought the draw was a disservice to the overall competition of the sport. That being said, it is tough to spotlight a 12-18 baseball team as the primary evidence of being victimized. The 39th District baseball this year was a trajedy with no school being evenly close to being competitive in a notably weak 10th Region. To spotlight our bad team as being not nearly as bad as Augusta or St. Pat's probably won't gain much traction. Hope you guys have some political influence with KHSAA, because it doesn't appear Mason is climbing out there on your limb to champion your cause.

 

I thought Mason voted to seed this time around.

Mason is in favor of seeding

I thought Mason voted to seed this time around.

 

It is my understanding that Mason has always been for seeding. If you are them, I could not conceive ever favoring the draw. On another thread, their school officials noted their position, but thought it was every school's right to vote their own and respected the draw stances taken. Didn't sound like they were prepared to climb out on Bracken's "all in" position of cancelling all competitions with Augusta and St. Pat until they change their stance. Even scheduled a regular season basketball game with St. Pat next year. Unless Mason is willing to use some of their KHSAA influence, Bracken's actions will be to their reputational detriment. IMO

If the games don't count for anything in a seeding format why play them? From a competition standpoint it benefits neither school. So not playing those games frees up spots on the schedule for more competitive game to prepare for post season situations

If the games don't count for anything in a seeding format why play them? From a competition standpoint it benefits neither school. So not playing those games frees up spots on the schedule for more competitive game to prepare for post season situations

 

polarbear98, respect your position on seeding vs. draw. But, your defense of Bracken's cancellation of rival games with Augusta and St. Pat is weak, weak, weak. Over the last five/ten years (and maybe a lot longer) the competitive intensity and excitement of these neighborhood rivalry games has been the epitomy of what is good about high school sports. We have all-in spirit, community support, and in-game athletic competition at its best without a hint of ugliness that sometimes happens postgame at other rivalries. To cancel that trying to leverage/alter someone's vote probably stirred only anger and entrenched their votes even deeper.

 

Just think the only way seeding will happen in the 39th is for the KHSAA to do their job and mandate the same rules are followed in all Districts throughout Ky.

Agree it will have to come from KHSAA but the past is the past and the competition level going forward isnt going to be the same. Too much of that living in the past and its always been done mentality is why we are where we are and still putting an entire season of work up to a dreaded pill draw.

Polaebear98, agree with all your points, and have always thought the draw was a disservice to the overall competition of the sport. That being said, it is tough to spotlight a 12-18 baseball team as the primary evidence of being victimized. The 39th District baseball this year was a trajedy with no school being evenly close to being competitive in a notably weak 10th Region. To spotlight our bad team as being not nearly as bad as Augusta or St. Pat's probably won't gain much traction. Hope you guys have some political influence with KHSAA, because it doesn't appear Mason is climbing out there on your limb to champion your cause.

 

I think we've all agreed that the KHSAA should step in an enforce seeding for all districts and I think it's safe to say that if the 39th had been seeded this season, Mason and Bracken would not have met in the semifinals. However, the 12-18 record is not indicative of the Bears' season. Bracken lost six games by a run, including one to Mason County, and those could have easily ended up in our favor, putting us over the .500 mark.

Also, if Bracken had won Monday I don't think you'd have a problem claiming Mason as being victimized by the draw. I wouldn't claim that no school in the 39th is close to being competitive. Mason County is taking a 14-9 record into the district title game and has a 5-6 mark against the so-called "weak" 10th Region opponents. By contrast, Bracken was 7-8 against 10th Region competition. Augusta, on the other hand, is 1-9 against region foes.

Depending on how the 10th Region bracket ends up, Mason County has a chance to advance at least into the semifinals and I would like to think the same would have been true for Bracken had last night's game ended in their favor. I don't think anyone could argue that case for Augusta at this point. The Polar Bears played 28 regular season games whereas the Panthers played just 10. I won't judge the commitment of their players because I don't know them first hand but I will argue that Bracken had the tougher schedule. Bracken County averaged 5.5 runs scored per regular season game and gave up 5.7 runs per game to its opponents. By law of averages, that gives them a 50/50 shot against opponents and those are odds I'd like to take into a region tournament. I'd also like to think that at least makes them competitive against most competitors. Augusta, on the other hand, scored an average of 3.2 runs per regular season contest while giving up 14.2 to their opponents.

The real "tragedy" of the 39th may be that Augusta and St. Pat played half as many games as Mason and Bracken. I know first hand that weather dictates a lot of baseball schedules but I think the real tragedy is that Augusta and St. Pat don't give their kids the opportunity to be competitive or to build a program the way Mason and Bracken have done by continually working to schedule opponents that challenge their players while always preparing for extended post-season play. Bracken and Mason played twice as much baseball as Augusta and St. Pat and it is a shame that either one of them should miss the chance to compete at region.

Agree it will have to come from KHSAA but the past is the past and the competition level going forward isnt going to be the same. Too much of that living in the past and its always been done mentality is why we are where we are and still putting an entire season of work up to a dreaded pill draw.

 

Find your position on the future to be a little pompous and perhaps premature. When Augusta Panthers were regularly defeating the Bears in roundball, I don't remember them threatening to cancel these historical rivalry games unless BC agreed to vote for a draw and not seeding. The difference of opinions, although not agreed with, were respected and it was the teams and playing the games that took a priority. Now that BC appears to competitively have the advantage, it appears pretty condescending to diminish the wholesome value of neighborhood rivalries and imply there is little value to even playing because there will be no competition. Perhaps the short term imbalance could turn pretty quickly. BC's projected great team next year is only one transfer out from probably being an average 10th Region team.

 

Don't know who is calling this all-in strategy of trash and burn. However, the reputational damage to an historically stellar and respected program is being clouded. The life lessons being displayed will sadly be looked at by most as "how not to play in the kindergarten sandbox."

Awesome! Great job Augusta!!!

I think we've all agreed that the KHSAA should step in an enforce seeding for all districts and I think it's safe to say that if the 39th had been seeded this season, Mason and Bracken would not have met in the semifinals. However, the 12-18 record is not indicative of the Bears' season. Bracken lost six games by a run, including one to Mason County, and those could have easily ended up in our favor, putting us over the .500 mark.

Also, if Bracken had won Monday I don't think you'd have a problem claiming Mason as being victimized by the draw. I wouldn't claim that no school in the 39th is close to being competitive. Mason County is taking a 14-9 record into the district title game and has a 5-6 mark against the so-called "weak" 10th Region opponents. By contrast, Bracken was 7-8 against 10th Region competition. Augusta, on the other hand, is 1-9 against region foes.

Depending on how the 10th Region bracket ends up, Mason County has a chance to advance at least into the semifinals and I would like to think the same would have been true for Bracken had last night's game ended in their favor. I don't think anyone could argue that case for Augusta at this point. The Polar Bears played 28 regular season games whereas the Panthers played just 10. I won't judge the commitment of their players because I don't know them first hand but I will argue that Bracken had the tougher schedule. Bracken County averaged 5.5 runs scored per regular season game and gave up 5.7 runs per game to its opponents. By law of averages, that gives them a 50/50 shot against opponents and those are odds I'd like to take into a region tournament. I'd also like to think that at least makes them competitive against most competitors. Augusta, on the other hand, scored an average of 3.2 runs per regular season contest while giving up 14.2 to their opponents.

The real "tragedy" of the 39th may be that Augusta and St. Pat played half as many games as Mason and Bracken. I know first hand that weather dictates a lot of baseball schedules but I think the real tragedy is that Augusta and St. Pat don't give their kids the opportunity to be competitive or to build a program the way Mason and Bracken have done by continually working to schedule opponents that challenge their players while always preparing for extended post-season play. Bracken and Mason played twice as much baseball as Augusta and St. Pat and it is a shame that either one of them should miss the chance to compete at region.

Thought I had made my position very clear as a seeding guy now, yesterday and tomorrow! Draw will create victims, which I personally find very unfortunate. There is no question, Mason and BC were the two best teams in a less than stellar 39th District, and candidly a down year for the 10th Region. But, until KHSAA mandates, I think all school officials have a responsibility to vote for the option that works best for their program. Any vote otherwise would be irresponsible.

Let's not forget that BC only cancelled away games. Not the home games. That's on Augusta and St. Pat.

 

Yeah there have been some great games last few years. No said otherwise.

 

@Oldercoach to call me pompous is your opinion that you are entitled to. But what does the rivalry really mean if the games have no meaning. There isn't a cross county trophy to pass back and forth. All is left is bragging rights and what does that do for anyone involved?

 

Augusta had a great 5-6 year run didn't say otherwise. But that run is over and they will be in a serious rebuilding process in roundball. So if the games have no meaning and are not going to be the competitive type games we have seen lately then why schedule them at all allow each school to put games that will help them in the long run. As for the other sports they really haven't been on the same level in some time.

 

It's a terrible situation for all involved that I don't see a resolution to in the near future. So BC has made their stand so we will see what happens in time.

 

As for me personally I support whatever the school thinks is the best approach. It was a bold move that will come with some hate thrown out way but that's fine too.