Madison, WI – The Northwoods League has announced a new playoff format that will begin with the 2015 season. This new format will increase the teams participating in the playoffs from four to eight as two additional teams will be added per division to take part in a pair of single-elimination games on the first two days of the playoffs. The two teams that win both of their single-elimination games in each division will move on to the best of three Summer Collegiate World Series.
The new playoff format and dates for the 2015 season are as follows:
The divisional playoffs will start on Monday, August 10 and end on Tuesday, August 11. Wednesday, August 12 will be an off day and the Summer Collegiate World Series will start on Thursday, August 13.
Playoff Format
First and second half divisional champions will have home field advantage on the first day of the one-game elimination divisional playoffs. If a team wins both halves, the team with the second best overall record will also have home field advantage on the first day.
Opponents will be determined by the two divisional teams remaining with the best overall records. If a team wins both halves, opponents will be determined by the three divisional teams remaining with the best overall record.
The first or second half divisional winner with the best overall record will host the remaining team with the second best overall record on day one.
The first or second half divisional winner with the second best overall record will host the remaining team with the best overall record on day one.
Home field advantage on day two will go to the team with the best overall record.
Day two winners will play in the best two of three Summer Collegiate World Series.
The Mallards last won the Summer Collegiate Word Series in 2013. In 2014, the Mallards finished with a 39-33 record falling just short of the postseason. Had these rules been in place last season, the Mallards would have qualified for the post-season and a chance at back-to-back Summer Collegiate World Series titles.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com
