The Redbird Classic Finals are slated Sunday afternoon- 45 teams competed for the championship
Jr Varsity Championship slates the Chargers vs Kane County and the Varsity Championship has the Illinois Central Outlaws vs Capital City Sluggers

all 4 of these teams advanced sunday morning by winning semi final games

For the first time 9 weeks a DSP tourney did not have rain..We had a brief delay in Springfield but Bloomington-Normal had baseball gods looking over us....Man has it been a long summer

14 events- 352 teams competed in Diamond Sports events which starts its Fall Season in 3 weeks- A small fun tourney will be held at St Joes College next weekend and then a week off before a 9 week Fall Schedule begins

go to www.diamondsportspromotions.com for all updated results of every tourney this summer and the final results of the Redbird Classic
Fall registration will be completed and closed for all teams on August 8th

I was fortunate enough to play in this tournament this weekend. The fields and weather were great. However, I saw the tournament results on the website- two teams went 4-0 in pool play and didn't advance. I was just wondering why there were so many teams per division, not allowing each team to face each other.

Yes It was a little disappointing that our Sparks ( Copp ) team went 4-0 along with the Ill Central Outlaws in our bracket , but they advanced and we didnt because of runs allowed . Not the ideal way to settle the matter . We should have been able to go head to head with the Outlaws to settle it. This very well could have been forseeable --both of us going 4-0 in that bracket . Dont really understand it . Plus there was some confusion with the rules . The rules we received stated that the tiebreaker would be decided by total run differential --not runs allowed . We were winning that tiebreaker going into saturdays game . We found out during last nites game ( saturday ) by virtue of a phone call to mr. van horn , that the rules we received were incorrect . Our Coaches were planning their stategy the last two games based on the rules they received . Go figure.

Please note --these comments are not the official position of the Sparks organization . just mine .

if it was runs allowed or run differential what strategy was being planned that was any different? Were they letting teams score on purpose? I don't see how the late change in the rule changes anything. In tournament baseball you always want to keep the team from scoring and you yourself score as much as possible, actually that's in any baseball. To say the strategy is different if it was run differential doesn't make much sense. It is unfortunate that a 4-0 team didn't make it but that's what happens sometimes in these things, maybe there wasn't enough field availability on Sunday to let more teams in.

I am sure the 4 teams from each age group were strong teams.

Thee is a big difference between total run differential and runs allowed . Runs scored factor in total run differential . Runs allowed is just that--runs allowed . Use your basic math skills to figure it out. World of difference between the two ..including strategy based on what the numbers were.

quote:

Originally posted by sulltiger24:
Thee is a big difference between total run differential and runs allowed . Runs scored factor in total run differential . Runs allowed is just that--runs allowed . Use your basic math skills to figure it out.

Would have LOVED to play the Sparks. Always looking to put my kids up against the best.

In our defense, however, we had you beat no matter which tiebreaker was used, so it turned out to be a moot point.

We'd like to extend a special thanks to Mike Vanhorn and Tim Brownlee. Thank you so much for being such gracious hosts all summer. It's been a pleasure working with you.

With all due respect , going into saturdays games --we had you beat in the total run differential department.....which is what we thought was going to be the tiebreaker. Check the numbers . That was my point .... That is what we were looking at before and during our saturday game . Not how things shook out after saturdays games . I am aware of how the numbers ended up after sats games. Doesnt really matter now . Congrats to your team .

An easy fix would be to add another round to the playoff schedule, 4 pools with seven teams per pool is going to omit an undefeated team. But you know what an extra round means,...

anyone know anything about the 4 teams remaining. Good players, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by sulltiger24:
With all due respect , going into saturdays games --we had you beat in the total run differential department.....which is what we thought was going to be the tiebreaker. Check the numbers . That was my point .... That is what we were looking at before and during our saturday game . Not how things shook out after saturdays games . I am aware of how the numbers ended up after sats games. Doesnt really matter now . Congrats to your team .

Very simple--explanation to that situaion-and it was explained to the COACH OF THE SPARKS FOR THAT GAME
IT WAS NOT THE RULES the sparks had--it was a description from the website---EACH COACH HAD AN EMAIL PRIOR TO THE TOURNEY SENT TO THEM stating to run off a copy of the DIAMOND SPORTS RULES and bring with them...Everyone on this website can get a set by going to www.diamondsportspromotions.com
clicking on that tourney description and looking at bottom...please do so and read the rules---This set of rules were used ALL SUMMER LONG--NO VARIABLES
ON THE description page of the tourney I personally made a mistake and typed in run differential due to Tim Brownlee and I discussing the difference of the two with Perfect Game using run differential...I stayed with RUNS ALLOWED ALL YEAR LONG instead of changing the rules--due to teams having a tendency of running up scores on opponents which were weaker to gain the advantage of run differential....That is not the purpose of holding these tourneys or events as i call them...
The sole purpose of having these events is explained very well on our website--GET THE KIDS SEEN IN GAME SITUATIONS rather then exposure events..
Field availability due to Illinois State field not being under construction limited our normal playoff environment in this tourney-- thus creating the situation of undefeated teams not making the final 4--- but every play, every pitch, every mistake is scrutinized in this environment--because just because you won the game doesn't mean you advance... NOT THE GREATEST format, i agree but the only one available for that number of teams wanting to play... Won't be that next year-- 2 more fields will be added--Heartland College Stadium and Illinois State.. I do not like to play any teams 3 games in 1 day--- would have been glad to stay over to Monday and play those teams but it doesn't do any good to play 3-4 games in one day--kids are exhausted..so finals were decided by THE ONLY SET OF RULES DIAMOND SPORTS HAS-- HEAD TO HEAD, RUNS ALLOWED...AS WE HAVE BEEN ALL 3 YEARS OF BUSINESS. We will be experimenting with run differential in some fall stuff...but I still don't like it
For Sparks, I apologize for the mix up--but we emailed you and said to run a copy of rules...The coach was fine with it after i explained to him on the phone... I am quite sure the Sparks got that information from another well known teams father ---Run Differential was never considered in the Redbird Classic-- just a communication mistake on MIKE VANHORNS PART..

quote:

Originally posted by tralpaz:
An easy fix would be to add another round to the playoff schedule, 4 pools with seven teams per pool is going to omit an undefeated team. But you know what an extra round means,...

it would have meant 3 games in one day for teams
something we dont like to do unless it is rain

My post wasnt intended to be registered as a complaint with you or your event . That would not be my place as i am not a coach and i am not a spokesman for the Sparks . Actually i did have to help out in the coaching department that nite ( sat ) because we were shorthanded ..thats how i became aware of this whole situation. In my post i was merely stating the facts as we had them at the time ( during our game ) as far as what we thought the rules were. It turned out to be wrong ..no big deal . I was just disappointed for our boys that they did not get a chance to play the other 4-0 team in our bracket --the outlaws --for a chance to move on...that is all . Evetryone is entitled to make a mistake every now and then...dont sweat it . Im sure our boys had a great time at your event as they are always well run and competitive.

quote:

Originally posted by sulltiger24:
My post wasnt intended to be registered as a complaint with you or your event . That would not be my place as i am not a coach and i am not a spokesman for the Sparks . Actually i did have to help out in the coaching department that nite ( sat ) because we were shorthanded ..thats how i became aware of this whole situation. In my post i was merely stating the facts as we had them at the time ( during our game ) as far as what we thought the rules were. It turned out to be wrong ..no big deal . I was just disappointed for our boys that they did not get a chance to play the other 4-0 team in our bracket --the outlaws --for a chance to move on...that is all . Evetryone is entitled to make a mistake every now and then...dont sweat it . Im sure our boys had a great time at your event as they are always well run and competitive.

did not take it Sultinger as complaint--I too would have liked to have seen the outlaws and Sparks play and square off...promise to do better job in the future--Just trying to do too much on my own...

thanks woodly, makes sense. btw, the Illinois Weslyian field is pretty cool. Especially for an evening start time.

Woodly,

just wanted to let you know that your tournaments were all top notch. We played in two and I stopped in to watch a couple days worth of another (I'm a junkie) to see some friends' kids play.

Hope to be a part of it next year as well.

quote:

I discussing the difference of the two with Perfect Game using run differential

If you mean us, we have never used run differential.

Pool play winners
1. Pool play overall record (winning percentage)
2. If two teams are tied - Head to Head winner
3. If three teams are tied – If one team has defeated both other teams, that team advances. If not go to #4.
4. Total runs allowed in pool play.
5. If still tied – Total runs scored in pool play
6. If still tied – Total runs allowed subtracting game with most runs allowed in pool play
7. If still tied – Total runs allowed minus two games with most runs allowed in pool play
8. If still tied – Runs scored inning by inning starting with first game until one team has more runs after a complete inning starting with pool games

Luckily I don't think we have ever got to #7 or #8.

PG, that gave me a headache just reading it!

2bagger,

I've also had a few headaches because of it.