FLORIDA STATE CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

                                                   MIXED DISTANCE DOUBLES

                                             WEDNESDAY 2:00 PM - APRIL 21, 2010

                                                        MELBOURNE, FLORIDA

 

            Last year 39 teams entered the tournament.  We would like to see more teams this year.  Look to the mixed distance doubles entry form for entering qualifications and fees.

Teams will be placed into classes according to their teams combined entering ringer percentages.  The pitching format will be cancellation scoring and 48 shoe games.  The team members pitching 40-feet will pitch against each other and so will the 30-foot pitchers.  The 40-foot pitchers will flip a shoe to determine which team starts the game.  All games will start with the 40-foot  pitchers throwing the first shoes.  The scoring team, as in regular cancellation scoring, will pitch first from the opposite end.  The 30-foot players from each team will throw down and then back and then the 40-foot players will throw down and back and the game shall continue in this manner through 48 shoes.  This format means that on alternate pitches a team member will determine first pitch for his partner and then first pitch for themselves.  If class is handicapped then the double alternate pitching method will be used. ie, one team will pitch down and back and then the other team will pitch down and back.

          In the event of a tied game the teams will pitch four additional shoes, two innings, each team member throwing two shoes.  In the event of a tied game after the two extra innings the game will continue with four more shoes, two shoes by the 40-foot pitchers followed by two shoes from the 30-foot, etc, etc, until a winner has been determined.  Except for the Championship class all classes with a ringer spread greater than 10% will be handicapped at 80%.  Tied games in a handicapped class will stand as a tie - no extra shoes play off.

          Their win/loss record will determine class winners.  Class winners and positions in class will be determined as per the FSHPA Inc. BY-LAWS.

In the event of a tie for the Championship class then a one game play off will be used to determine the championship.  In the event of a three-way tie the teams will be ranked by ringer percentage.  The two lowest ringer percentage teams will play a 48 shoe game with the winning team moving on to play a game against the highest percentage team for the championship and the loosing team will be placed third in the class.  In the event of a four-way tie the teams will be ranked by ringer percentage.  The highest ringer percentage team will play a 48-shoe game against the 4th lowest ringer percentage team and the second and third ranked teams will play a play off game.  The winners of the play off games will play a one game play off for the championship with the winner being declared State champion and the looser will be placed second in the class.  The losers of the first play off game will play a one game play off for third and fourth positions in the class.  Five six or seven way ties, should this happen, will be explained at that time.

          In the event of a rain out the mixed doubles competition will be cancelled and entry fees returned.  No refunds after April 1, 2010 unless tournament is cancelled.