Valley hosts first Region III baseball tourney

PALMER -- For the first time, Region III has its own baseball tournament. After years of discussion between local coaches, administrators and the Alaska Schools Activities Association, a tourney was implemented for the 2004 season.

Action in the first Region III tournament, a three-day event, continues today at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the semifinals.

All games are at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

In the past, the leader in the standings after the regular season earned the region's only berth to the state tournament -- an event which has and still only includes four teams from across the state.

While some have pushed for a postseason region championship, others are not crazy about the idea.

"I have never been a big fan of it, never pushed for it," Palmer head coach Steve Mossburgh said. "It's only single elimination."

The tournament's "lose and your season's over bracket" features five quarterfinal games on the first day of the tourney, followed by a pair of semifinals contests on the second day and a championship match on the final day.

Mossburgh said he and Colony head coach Jamie Mayo have always opposed the idea, not liking the format that has been implemented. He said the travel costs of teams such as Homer, Valdez or Kodiak is not worth it if those teams can only play one game.

Coaches have also tried unsuccessfully to increase the state baseball tournament to an eight-team bracket.

"We have tried for years," Mossburgh said. "We haven't got any response.

"If you are going to have a tournament, have a tournament," Mossburgh added.