Eight teams will now compete for a Summer Collegiate World Series Championship

Rochester, Minn. – 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 Championship series.

Rafters all-you-can-eat 9-game packs, Solarus Founders Club season tickets and group packages are on sale now. To purchase your 9-game pack contact Jake Serwe at the Rafters ticket office by calling 715-424-5400 or emailing jake@RaftersBaseball.com.

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 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.raftersbaseball.com.