Smith and Adrean posts have byes as the top two seeds for District V's six-team senior division playoffs.
UTICA -- District V finalized its senior division American Legion baseball playoffs over the weekend and postseason play starts Monday, July 14, with the first two games under a revised format.
Rome's Smith Post, the defending champion, earned the top seed with an 11-4 record in league play, and Utica's Adrean Post earned the other by to the semifinals in a tie-breaker over Utica's Junior Blue Sox.
The byes are part of the new format adopted with fewer teams competing this summer. The playoff format under District V bylaws is set up for eight teams; there are only six senior division teams this year.
With fewer teams competing, the district revised its playoff format. The top two regular-season teams - Smith and Adrean posts - receive byes past single-elimination quarterfinals. Adrean Post and the Junior Blue Sox tied for second place with 9-6 league records; Adrean Post won the second place tie-breaker with a 2-1 head-to-head record, having beaten the Junior Blue Sox in the teams' first two meetings in June.
The Junior Blue Sox, seeded third, host No. 6 Oneida Post (2-13) Monday at Utica University. Utica Post (7-8), the fourth seed, plays No. 5 New Hartford Post (7-8) Monday at Utica's JFK Middle School. Both games are scheduled for 5:15 p.m. starts with Tuesday rain dates.
Utica Post earned home field with a 2-1 record against New Hartford, having won the two July games 3-2 and 6-3. The Junior Blue Sox swept its three regular season meetings with Oneida Post.
Wednesday is an off day on the schedule. The semifinals will be played as best-of-three series at Murnane Field in Utica; the higher seed advancing Monday plays Adrean Post in Thursday's first game with the Smith Post game to follow. Play starts at 5 p.m. each day with a 6 p.m. start if there is a single Saturday game.
The single championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m., also at Murnane Field, but will be played Saturday if both semifinal series are two-game sweeps.
If necessary, there is a July 20 rain date. A site has not been announced.
Both District V finalists will advance to the eight-team double-elimination state tournament hosted by Greece Post. The state champion advances to the Mid-Atlantic regional in Ridge, Maryland, in August.
Smith Post swept through the 2024 district tournament and won the state tournament in Binghamton.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Senior division playoffs set for District V Amerian Legion baseball
Category: General Sports
