To weigh in on the double elimination for softball I would suggest that there are probably a couple of factors that lead to this format:

The most obvious is that you can play multiple games in short periods because of the ability of pitchers to pitch more often.

There are no classes so only one champion.

Also, because softball games literally do not take much clock time. By that I mean, you can play a whole season, win your region, take your team all the way to Owenboro (minimum two hrs for almost every team) then get a draw against a great pitcher and literally play the game in less than 1 1/2 hrs. I would say that wouldn't be much of an experience for most teams/programs.

Lastly, a double elimination format typically gives you the best team(s) in the championship. Case in point, this tournament saw MNH, McCracken, & Scott Co in the final three and they are the three best teams so it is representative. I know some will argue underdog/small school chances/etc. but I would argue if you want more teams to have a chance they create multiple classes with multiple state champions under a single-elimination format.....if not, I think it is good the way it is.

However....you have been around this game for a long time and know that in this particular sport, whether it is NCAA or travel teams, that the conditions for tournament play are almost exclusively two and out. It's been conditioned that way in many different formats.

 

Not that I disagree with you, because you are right, it's one and done with all others (although I'm not sure how bowling works to be fair).

 

On the fields issue, until some political power can make some influence happen...it likely won't change unfortunately.

 

I agree with you regarding nationals but in my opinion those tournaments are so much different. How many kids are really getting recruited from their high school team? I would say maybe 5 - 10% if that. At national tournaments there are college coaches who are coming to see these kids and the more they play the better they are. Parents are also traveling across the country for these tournaments so this also involves travel, lodging & food.

 

Like Sweet16 said, why are we making district & regional one and out and not the state tournament? Like I said before this tournament needs to be 1 and out and moved to 1 location. Start it on Wednesday and be done with it by Saturday evening. It is still the same amount of days the baseball tournament is but we know there is no pitch count regulations for softball so you do not need to give them days off.

 

Wednesday - 4 games (1st round)

Thursday - 4 games (1st round)

Friday - 4 games (2nd round)

Saturday - 3 games (championship game in the evening) (semi & finals)

 

My baseball team is playing in the state tournament and the facility is so nice. I mean for God's sake they go out in the 5th inning and 3 or 4 guys screen drag the infield does softball get this? No, and it is not traditional either but why do the girls have to play on a city field (slow-pitch) with temporary fences? You can't tell me UK or UofL would not host this. Take away the double elimination tournament and treat the girls the same as the boys. Also, if they must have a double elimination tournament find a park that has regulation field to host it. In the state of Kentucky it is hard to believe there is not 1 park centrally located that has 2 - 3 regulation fields.

MNH owned McCracken this year too. Point is, MCHS went home with SECOND place. If they didn't lose their opening game they wouldn't be here to blame the loss on fatigue. The Scott county pitcher pitched all but 4 innings of the tournament, I think McCracken had 3. If you wanna talk fatigue then start there. Oh btw Scott brings back 6 of 9 starters next couple years. See you next year

MHN may have been a better team than McCracken, but McCracken went 3-1 vs Scott, and the only narrow loss was after McCracken had played all those games. And I'd say it's very possible for McCracken to make it back to the championship game considering they've never not been in the championship...

Curious, when did McCracken combine those high schools to create McCracken County HS and what were the previous high schools? I hear about it but wasn't clear on all of the details. Thought you might know.

Curious, when did McCracken combine those high schools to create McCracken County HS and what were the previous high schools? I hear about it but wasn't clear on all of the details. Thought you might know.

 

Reidland

lone OAk

Heath

 

THey just finished their 3rd year.

 

They have been in the finals all 3 years.

 

All 3 were successful before the consolidation.

That's what I had heard. Basically they took 3 top 15-20 programs and combined them into one. Just didn't have all of the information but very interesting. If you know, curious how that has been received? Surely there are kids who were starters and great players who ended up sitting on the bench the last 3 years. How was that received and how has it played out?

That's what I had heard. Basically they took 3 top 15-20 programs and combined them into one. Just didn't have all of the information but very interesting. If you know, curious how that has been received? Surely there are kids who were starters and great players who ended up sitting on the bench the last 3 years. How was that received and how has it played out?

 

They basically combined a 3A school, and 2 small 2A's. Per KHSAA website, total enrollment was 1980 students.

 

For comparison sake, Scott Co. had 2467, Male with 1805, Madisonville NH with 1069.

That's what I had heard. Basically they took 3 top 15-20 programs and combined them into one. Just didn't have all of the information but very interesting. If you know, curious how that has been received? Surely there are kids who were starters and great players who ended up sitting on the bench the last 3 years. How was that received and how has it played out?

 

Reidland was typically a top 10 team in softball, Lone Oak and Heath were typically pretty good. Make no mistake about it, McCracken is and will for the foreseeable future be perennial contenders in softball and baseball. Football and basketball will just be average as only Lone Oak football were ever competitive.

That's very interesting as 1900 is not crazy huge, but was wondering how it was received in the softball program with some former starters having to sit on the bench.

It has gone pretty well. The kids came together and have been contenders each year. A champion last year. Some girls quit some went to other schools. McCracken hasn't lost a game in the first region after the consolidation. In the years they have existed they have scored 400+runs in the first region and allowing only 20 something. The girls have recieved consolidation pretty well. Yes the programs they consolidated from were better than good. Reidland was a state champion and All A champ in the same year I think 2010. They had several All A championships. Heath fought Reidland for the All A several years and I believe won it once or twice. Lone Oak was in the state finals I think the last two years of their existence. So McCracken came from more than just good programs. Give Scott County some respect though they went through what many thought would be the two teams in the state championship.

I agree with you regarding nationals but in my opinion those tournaments are so much different. How many kids are really getting recruited from their high school team? I would say maybe 5 - 10% if that. At national tournaments there are college coaches who are coming to see these kids and the more they play the better they are. Parents are also traveling across the country for these tournaments so this also involves travel, lodging & food.

 

Like Sweet16 said, why are we making district & regional one and out and not the state tournament? Like I said before this tournament needs to be 1 and out and moved to 1 location. Start it on Wednesday and be done with it by Saturday evening. It is still the same amount of days the baseball tournament is but we know there is no pitch count regulations for softball so you do not need to give them days off.

 

Wednesday - 4 games (1st round)

Thursday - 4 games (1st round)

Friday - 4 games (2nd round)

Saturday - 3 games (championship game in the evening) (semi & finals)

 

My baseball team is playing in the state tournament and the facility is so nice. I mean for God's sake they go out in the 5th inning and 3 or 4 guys screen drag the infield does softball get this? No, and it is not traditional either but why do the girls have to play on a city field (slow-pitch) with temporary fences? You can't tell me UK or UofL would not host this. Take away the double elimination tournament and treat the girls the same as the boys. Also, if they must have a double elimination tournament find a park that has regulation field to host it. In the state of Kentucky it is hard to believe there is not 1 park centrally located that has 2 - 3 regulation fields.

 

I can tell you first hand that this question was asked of Mr. Bilberry during the State Clinic earlier this year....E-town is the only other option that even comes close. There just are not FP exclusive fields in Kentucky....:idunno:

 

I do agree with you on the format and I do believe that UK / UL would host. It's after the NCAA is over or at least the Region / Supers so no conflict.

I can tell you first hand that this question was asked of Mr. Bilberry during the State Clinic earlier this year....E-town is the only other option that even comes close. There just are not FP exclusive fields in Kentucky....:idunno:

 

I do agree with you on the format and I do believe that UK / UL would host. It's after the NCAA is over or at least the Region / Supers so no conflict.

 

This baffles me.

Reidland was typically a top 10 team in softball, Lone Oak and Heath were typically pretty good. Make no mistake about it, McCracken is and will for the foreseeable future be perennial contenders in softball and baseball. Football and basketball will just be average as only Lone Oak football were ever competitive.

 

Actually Heath was very competitive years ago. But it's been a long time since then.

Actually Heath was very competitive years ago. But it's been a long time since then.

 

:lol2: I was meaning more since the 90's