The Schuylkill-Berks American Legion Baseball League changed its playoff format for the 2014 season during its monthly meeting Feb. 23.
Since its inception in 2010, the league had determined its champion by having simultaneous eight-team, double-elimination tournaments in each of its divisions, with the winners squaring off to determine the league champion.
This season, all teams will qualify for the playoffs, but there will be only one eight-team, double-elimination tournament instead of two.
To open the playoffs, each division will hold an elimination round, with No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The winners of the first-round games will advance to the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.
In the opening round of the double-elimination tournament, North 1 will face South 4, North 2 will face South 3, North 3 will face South 2 and North 4 will face South 1 at the home of the higher seed. The second round would be "winners vs. winners" and "losers vs. losers" at the home of the higher seed.
Beginning with the third round, the tournament will move to a central location and be played there until its conclusion. The winners will be the league champion and earn the league's berth in the Region 2 Tournament.
"This process gives us an opportunity to showcase the best teams in our league in a format that's more fan friendly and is easier to manage than the two simultaneous tournaments, while still respecting our initial commitment that all teams will have a second opportunity to make the postseason playoffs," league president Bob Davis said.
STATE COLLEGE - The Penn State Blue-White Game, presented by AAA, will be held Saturday, April 12, at 1:30 p.m. at Beaver Stadium, the school announced Wednesday.
As in previous years, there will be no admission or parking fee, with stadium parking lots opening at 8 a.m. The times for stadium gate openings for the fans will be announced in March.