ILH baseball tournament gives teams a fresh start
April 17th, 2008 by WesThere’s at least 11 different scenarios possible for the end of the ILH baseball tournament, which starts Saturday and could last for almost two weeks.
One scenario would result in the exact same situation as we are in now — with Saint Louis No. 1, Mid-Pacific No. 2 and Punahou No. 3.
Other scenarios are so complicated, Punahou could end up No. 3 in the regular season, No. 3 in the tournament, and still not have a shot at the league’s third state tournament berth.
It makes some wonder, “Why have a tournament?”
But with all its faults, I still can’t help but like the idea of an ILH tournament. To me, there’s an excitement with wiping the slate clean, starting fresh with everybody 0-0.
I’m sure every team in the league wishes it could correct some of the mistakes made in the regular season. Now, they can.
One argument against the tournament is that it lessens the relevance of the regular season. But ILH baseball coordinator Carl Schroers said that when he and the eight head coaches met for over two hours a few weeks ago to plan the tournament, one of the goals was to reward the top performing teams.
“We wanted to protect the highest finishers,” Schroers said. “That’s why Mid-Pac, by finishing second in the regular season, gets at least a playoff for a state berth (no matter its tournament finish).”
Saint Louis, the regular season champ, already has earned its state tourney berth and a spot in the overall ILH championship game if it does not win the tournament.
Punahou does not need to win the tournament to protect its third place regular season finish, but it will need help from Saint Louis and MPI if it doesn’t.
For the Buffanblu and the rest of the teams, the goal is to at least get to the tournament championship game. With a double-elimination format, every team gets a lifeline.
Every team gets a second chance.
And that’s what this tournament is all about.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
“One argument against the tournament is that it lessens the relevance of the regular season”
I am somewhat confused by this…I would guess St Louis thinks the regular season has plenty relevance. They are going to the dance. MPI has at minimum a one game playoff to go to the dance becasue of the Regular Season.
OIA Regular season is the joke. 2 of 14 teams are eliminated that’s all. With 5 state berths and 12 teams in their post season tournament, it seems like their regular season is irrelevant to me?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Congratulations to St. Louis. Better luck next year to Iolani, Kam, MPI, and Punahou.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Basically, having a tournament like this extends the state tournament to everybody (as it does in NCAA basketball). For most of the ILH teams (other than St Louis), the state tournament begins now. For the OIA teams, save the few eliminated, the state tournament begins with the OIA tournament.
Because of these tournaments, almost everyone has a chance to win the state championship. Almost everyone is already in “the dance.”
April 18th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hisportsfan,
Some would say it lessens the relevance of the regular season because Maryknoll, which went 0-14, is now 0-0 and has (on paper) the same opportunity to win the league championship as MPI (13-2).
Mahalo for reading.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Wes…
From your original post…
“Saint Louis, the regular season champ, already has earned its state tourney berth and a spot in the overall ILH championship game”
“That’s why Mid-Pac, by finishing second in the regular season, gets at least a playoff for a state berth (no matter its tournament finish).”
So for two Teams the regular season was very relevant. At the beginning, those two important items were up for grabs to all. Now as far as on paper MYK 0-14 getting a clean slate, I see your point, but on the other hand, the OIA plays 12 games to eliminate two teams, and the East and West finiahers just get a bye in the OIA playoffs? Bet they would rather have a State Spot locked up instead!
April 19th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Maryknoll has a chance, maybe — but it’s a very, very long one. It may be interesting to see how they do in the D-II state tournament — which they qualified for by default even before the season began, as the Spartans are the only D-II baseball team in the ILH.
Which raises another interesting question: the Cartwright Cup — honoring the founder of the game of baseball (Alexander Cartwright died in 1892 and is buried at Oahu Cemetery — we just celebrated his life this past Thursday, on his birthday, April 17) — is awarded to the state high school baseball champion. I assume that everybody assumes that will be the winner of the D-I state tournament. But how will the HHSAA, if at all visa vi the Cartwright Cup, recognize the winner of the D-II state tournament?
For those of you as confused as most of us are about what teams in what sports at what school — this season — are D-I or D-II, this is the first season for D-II baseball statewide. There are 55 total high school baseball programs across the islands — and 24 of them are D-II. The Big Island has eight; Maui four; the OIA eight; the ILH one; and Kauai has three.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
The ILH regular season had lots of drama. Watching the race between St Louis and Mid Pac battling for that automatic bid was exciting. The tournament adds more excitment with Damien, Kamehameha, Punahou and Iolani all with a shot. The regular season of the OIA eliminated Mililani, I don’t think anyone expected that at the beginning of the season. The OIA tournament will bring the West and East teams together for the first time since the preseason. There are a lot of unknowns and all the spots are up for grabs.