The baseball playoff format for Class 4A and 5A teams is set to undergo a significant transformation. Proposals suggest making the regional tournaments a double-elimination setup spread over two days. This change was recommended by the Colorado High School Activities Association's baseball committee with a vote of 7-2 during their September meeting. The issue now awaits a final vote by the CHSAA board of directors, and if approved, the changes will take effect in the two-year cycle starting from 2026.

Unlock the Potential of Baseball Playoffs with a New Format

Committee's Focus and Concerns

The committee's discussions centered around two crucial aspects. Firstly, they aimed to ensure that the best overall teams made it to the state championship bracket, maximizing the chances of having the top teams compete at the state tournament. As Rock Canyon Athletic Director Tom Brieske pointed out, "The team that has the once ace pitcher is an easy out. We want the best overall teams to be in the state championship bracket. This gives us the best chance to get the best teams to the state tournament." However, one of the cons mentioned was that for some traveling teams, they might have to pay for an extra night's accommodation.Secondly, finances played a significant role. Palisade High School baseball coach Nate Porter emphasized, "Money is a concern for a lot of people. We are in a low school district as far as finances go. We manage to raise the capital. We plan ahead for that." Brieske also agreed that finances would be a concern, stating, "We’re going to have to charter a bus to the West Slope. You get out there, play one game, get eliminated, turn around, come back. Knowing you’re going for a double-elimination tournament is worth that expense, in my opinion, for the experience for the kids."

Impact on Team Advancement

Porter further highlighted that the present format doesn't always allow the best teams to advance. He shared an example, saying, "I watched a team beat Windsor, and I thought, ‘These guys were legit.’ We ended up 10-running the team that beat Windsor. The best team usually wins the state tournament, but it would be nice to have that format." This shows the potential of the proposed double-elimination setup in giving more opportunities to the top teams.

Future Tournament Locations

The committee also discussed potential future locations for the state baseball tournaments without making a recommendation. Committee members seemed to agree that the 3A tournament should stay in Greeley as two fields are available to the qualifying teams. University High School Athletic Director Ryan Wehrman mentioned, "UNC (the University of Northern Colorado) isn’t the easiest to work with. I would say our field is in better condition than Jackson Field (on UNC’s campus). We can create a state tournament atmosphere." After suggesting that the 2A state title game stay in Pueblo ("Runyon Field is an amazing place"), Buena Vista High School baseball coach Greg Perrin felt the 3A tournament should also remain in Greeley. He said, "The epicenter of 3A baseball has been in Greeley for 25 years. That’s where 3A belongs. Having coached there and having two fields in the same town, it makes life easier for the teams involved." Wehrman added, "When you have so much northern Colorado baseball and the tournament final (here) … I’d hate to sacrifice location to a lesser field just to rotate."For more updates, visit CHSAANow.com.