Tournament baseball and rain, What do you do?

formerhawk10 · (#1)

Have a question from a tournament this past weekend. Rain came and washed away the championship games. The tournament director does not present trophies to the highest seed left because they didn't play the championship game or earn the championship. How does everyone view this? Ages effected were u8 all the way to u14.

Blzn08 · (#2)

We had the same thing in Dublin and they did award the championship to the higher seed. This was agreed on by both sides but, I believe is the correct way to handle when the weather washes away the championship game.

mansfld_buckeye · (#3)

I hate it. We are in the championship with the Riverbats 12u in dublin and it is rained out. It is very hard to see someone win a tournament yet not beat you for it. It is a hollow victory for them and a stinging result for the other team. I would rather lose and be second than take second by way of tie breaker and a game that was not played. Neither team wins.

amymo · (#4)

I agree with mansfld_buckeye. Our team didn't make it to the final game, but it irks me that the tourney ended the way it did with who ended up winning. Sour grapes, I guess. There is always next week and the week after that, etc.

Blzn08 · (#5)

The other thing would be to offer both teams co-champions. I know it is not what we want as we would rather play it out but, co-champions may be better than awarding 1st place and 2nd place.

buckeyedan · (#6)

yea you won't have trophies for co-champs but still... who wants to be AWARDED a "championship" they didn't win on the field?

ott75 · (#7)

I agree with Blazn8, seems like a relatively easy thing to do. As much money as these tournies make, to go ahead and buy some medals "just in case" and label them co-champions, maybe expend about an additional $24 at the most.

mansfld_buckeye · (#8)

In reality we would take co champions and they can keep the trophies. Our kids are not interested in trophies much anymore. They have so many (as most kids ) that after the last tournament, I found my sons trophy under the car seat, .....forgotten already. He is in it for the glory, not the gold.

itsouttahere · (#9)

In tourneys like Dublin that seed you after pool play, it's usually done that way. If you want to do it the other way there's no incentive to win in pool play, just go 0-3, save your pitchers and win it from the bottom of the bracket. Not the way I'd want my son's coaches to approach a tourney. You play to win and deal with the weather. Unless you guys want to pitch in and build a dome, or move to Arizona I don't think there's any real point in complaining about something the tourney director can't control.

mansfld_buckeye · (#10)

The spirit of the game is not being met, that is the problem. Simpson did a great job, I dont agree with not trying to play but the tourny was great. However, to make an analogy if the ncaa final four basketball had a black out, there would be problem with giving the national championship to the highest seed without the games being played. Please do not attack my analogy in comparison to the dublin tournament, but that game means as much to the kids, coaches, and fans, as it does to any athlete at any level. It is what it is, but discussion often brings solutions.

colt3817 · (#11)

They should come to an agreement on the championship game to be made up. I don't think givin to the highest seed is fair seeing some teams get unfairly seeded too high. The game should be played to award a champion. At these prices the teams play a championship game is well deserved

Blzn08 · (#12)

It would be almost impossible to reshedule these championship games because as a travel team you are scheduled every weekend in another tournament. My team has a tournament the next 7 weekends from Ohio-Michigan-Tennesee-Indiana. It would be great because everyone wants to play it out, but not realistic. Just forget the trophys as Mansfield says and call it co-champions. I actually think Dublin did a great job this past weekend considering the weather.

bvtravel · (#13)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ott75

I agree with Blazn8, seems like a relatively easy thing to do. As much money as these tournies make, to go ahead and buy some medals "just in case" and label them co-champions, maybe expend about an additional $24 at the most.

I agree with ott. The trophies aren't as much the issue as the result. No one can control the weather. Blame Leather Lips for that. But I agree with Co-Champs absent an ability to play the game. Seems like a reasonable solution under these circumstances.

Clearance McGee · (#14)

mansfld - It sounds like you and your son have been playing travel baseball for several years. I'm surprised that you are surprised with the way that tournament was handled. It's a pretty typical way to handle it if the championship rounds are washed out. Needless to say, everyone would rather the games to be played, but if they can't be played you simply refer to the seeds that were earned in pool play.

mansfld_buckeye · (#15)

I understand how it works, the competitor in me wants to finish it on the field. This is the third time one of my teams have experienced a tourny that ended in the ship getting rained out. I have been on both sides and been co champs. *shrugs* I know you cant always get what you want, but this is a forum after all.

mtrotb · (#16)

The 14 year SNIT was rained out in Atlanta last weekend for the elimination round and the winner with a Disney berth went to a pool winner who gave up the least amount of runs. The team was the "C" team from the club, although the club is the best in the country.

(#17)

You could cut the trophies in half and have Co-Champs