How ridiculous is the State Tournament set up?

[JackRabbitSlim]

This is really the first year I have kept up with softball and whenever I seen the brackets for the State Tournament I about died. There is no way you can make a team play three times on one day in 95 degree heat. There is no way a pitcher can do that, regardless of how good they are. I don't understand why they don't have the same set up as the boys? Why can't they have a sectional tournament, narrow it down to 8, and then have a single elimination tournament? Anything else just seems stupid. This is a simple example of a revenue hungry system trying to sqeeze out a few more bucks from 8 other teams. I guess in baseball they make enough of admission and sales at Applebees Park to where they don't have to do this, but they still do similar things. They are making the farthest teams play in the morning because they think they will bring a less crowd. Greenup will bring a lot of people, and i think they screwed both teams by doing this.

[Batpuff]

Well LC played at 10 am and didnt get done until like 12 something and then only had about an hour off and had to play game two and that wasnt over with until around 4 and then had about another hour off and played again. And I was just using LC as an example the rest were the same as well.

[StrikeoutKing]

Well LC played at 10 am and didnt get done until like 12 something and then only had about an hour off and had to play game two and that wasnt over with until around 4 and then had about another hour off and played again. And I was just using LC as an example the rest were the same as well.
That's ridiculous! College is somewhat similar though. If a team down 1-0 in a 3-game series wins, they turn right around and play again. I realize girls can pitch however many innings they want without damaging their arms, but as far as the other players and the heat they must endure (especially catchers), it's crazy! I agree with making it similar to the boys' setup! Playign 3 games in one day with only an hour or so between two of them is just ridiculous!

[Batpuff]

Yea that was just day one. Day two is almost just as bad.

[Panther Thunder]

I was reading the scores and like, good God they've played 99 games.

[thecavemaster]

Greenwood played five games (stayed in winner's bracket) to win the title, while North Laurel played six games (got in loser's bracket) to finish 2nd. The tournament is set up to grind the teams in the loser's bracket, while still giving a team who gets upset a chance to battle out and prove their superiority. Fast pitch softball moves much more quickly than baseball. The format is tough, but I think the best overall team often wins as a result of the set up because the pitchers tend to tire a little, resulting in overall team strength in all types of areas growing in importance. The young women who catch do pay the highest price when it's this hot.

[Over The Fence]

Most serious softball players play travel ball. If you look at a typical tournament, it's two pool games plus the double elimination so the girls are accostomed to playing multiple games. The catcher does take most of the brunt, but generally is isn't unbearable. The only thing unbearable at this state tournament was the condition of the fields. The temp was 95 and the winds were about 20 mph. The field crew didn't water the infields at all on Friday. There were several times the umps had to stop the games because of the dust. If a ball went in the dirt, the catchers had a difficult time picking it up. For a state championship tournament, the fields were a joke.

[fastpitchgal]

oh yes, the dust was absolutely horrible! and the players knew it. i saw numerous teams using it to their advantage. they would slide on every base even when there was no pressure as to being safe or not and every time a batter would get in the batters box they would stir their feet around just to stir up the dirt to effect the catchers vision. pretty smart, but no one needs to play in those conditions. watering the fields would have taken only a matter a minutes.

[FOX SPORTS]

My thoughts on the State Tourney setup or ANY softball multiple game tourney setup is that it favors the larger schools with more than one pitcher and catcher.
Most larger schools have two or three pitchers and will work alternate catchers.

Small schools with only one superior pitcher and usually only one catcher are at a real disadvantage.

[SVLadiesFan]

My thoughts on the State Tourney setup or ANY softball multiple game tourney setup is that it favors the larger schools with more than one pitcher and catcher.
Most larger schools have two or three pitchers and will work alternate catchers.

Small schools with only one superior pitcher and usually only one catcher are at a real disadvantage.

You are exactly right.

[THE_1_AND_ONLY]

It was very hard on all teams...

[rdog]

The state tourney just demonstrated the KHSAA's lack of respect for the young ladies and their fans! Friday's conditions were atrocious with the dust covering everyone and making it miserable for everyone in attendance. Saturday, they watered the fields and it was very pleasant. However, the format has got to change! We play a double elimination tourney in less than 48 hours while basketball plays it's single elimination tourneys over a four day period. REDICULOUS!!! This should be what Title IX is for.....