2022 CRVL playoff format announced and a look at the playoff picture
The format for the 2022 Crow River Valley League playoffs and the Region 7C Tournament has been set. The CRVL held a special league meeting to discuss the postseason format with the news of the Mayer Blazers being ineligible for the 2022 postseason in Class C.
The Blazers had the option to compete in Class B for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but have chosen to sit out of the 2022 postseason and ask to be reinstated in Class C in 2023 after not having a valid Class C roster this season.
With the CRVL down to 12 eligible teams for the postseason in 2022, the league needed to alter the playoff format. The league chose to award four byes into the Region 7C Tournament with the remaining eight teams to play a best of three-game series for the final four spots.
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the four byes have already been clinched. Watertown, Plato, Waconia, and Carver have already secured the top four spots heading into the final weekend. Although they will be the top four seeds, their order can still be switched around depending on the results.
Plato and Carver are the only teams locked into a spot in the top four. By virtue of winning the CRVL South division title for the second year in a row, the Bluejays are locked into the No. 2 seed as they can’t pass Watertown in the standings. The Carver Black Sox are also locked into the No. 4 seed as they can’t jump into the top two seeds or pass Waconia or Watertown for the third seed.
Watertown is the favorite to claim the No. 1 spot in Region 7C and the CRVL North Title. With a win over St. Boni Saturday or Waconia Sunday, the Red Devils will be the top seed in Region 7C.
The other eight teams will learn their seeds for the league playoffs depending on their results in their final games. Stay connected with Herald Journal Sports Editor Kip Kovar and follow him on Twitter all day Sunday for in-game updates on the final games of the season as well as the playoff matchups that will follow once games are complete.
Twitter – @Kovar_HJSports