RANDOLPH AIR FORCE, Texas –
After rainouts caused significant delay in completing the 2008 Randolph Intramural Softball regular season, games are currently underway to get players back on schedule.
Teams will work to play catchup during the next two-and-a-half weeks before heading into a playoff tournament that all teams, regardless of record, will compete.
Regardless of the current lag, playoffs are set to begin Sept. 15 with four games on the slate.
"Our bylaws say the top four teams from each division are all that automatically must make the playoffs, but this is the last sport of the fiscal year and I want to give the teams as much of a chance to play games as I can," said Rikk Prado, Rambler Fitness Center sports program manager.
Neither Prado nor any of the 14 teams has had a say during the past three weeks about whether or not to play games. August rains have caused numerous cancellations, but Prado wants to make up all of them .
"The lightning is something we won't take a chance with, but we'll play games if it's just raining," Prado said. "When it rains heavily prior to games, it can cause the field to be unplayable and that's what we've dealt with for much of this season."
There were games scheduled each night, Monday through Thursday of this week, and a final set of games to be played this coming week that will cap the regular season.
"Again, the bylaws do not require us to make games up unless they can affect whether a team makes or doesn't make the playoffs," said Prado, whose 18 years of civilian work have included exclusive involvement with planning and structuring of intramural sports competition. "By making them up, or at least trying to, it's an opportunity for all teams to play games. That's the overall goal of the program. We want them to play as many games as possible."
Prado said the 2008 playoffs format will include elimination games in the first-round, then perhaps a double-elimination format for the eight teams that advance. The postseason was originally scheduled to begin Aug. 25, but will now be pushed back.
"We've got under three weeks left before softball is completely finished, but a lot will happen in that span," Prado said. "Historically, we've played the postseason tournament in August and it's been hot. By playing it in September we expect to maybe get some relief from the heat. It couldn't hurt that it's moved back a few weeks."
Air Force Personnel Center is the only team left with a shot to enter the postseason undefeated. The personnelists have a 9-0 record thus far and are the statistical leader among squads from both divisions.
The 562nd Instructors team has the next best record, but the records of the other 12 teams creates a field that is wide open with parity.