Press Release
South Miami, December 18, 2016
The new Fall 2016 season opened on December 18, 2016 with a game between the Miami Brewers and the Hialeah Astros (Brewers won 8-2). This is our 49th consecutive season and baseball in the South Florida Baseball League is more exciting than ever. To keep things simple, we are keeping all the rules the same, with the exception of bats, where the SFBL has formally adopted the COLLEGE BASEBALL BAT RULES for both OPEN AND MASTERS DIVISIONS.
This season, for each division, Open and Masters, the SFBL is awarding Championship and MVP trophies, a $1000 cash prize, championship tshirts and authentic SFBL logo baseball caps to the championship teams. The SFBL is also awarding the Baseball Beast trophy to our most heroic warrior.
All games, except championship games, are subject to 3 hour time limit, no ties permitted, suspended after 3.5 hours, mercy rule 10 run lead after seven innings in effect. Championship games do not have a time limit. All games are official after five complete innings if called due to rain.
Special Note: The $1000 cash prize will only be payable to championship teams in good standing, meaning teams must be in full compliance with a published team roster, matching waiver form signatures, fully paid team fees and full team statistics in order to collect the incentive cash prize.
Open Division Playoffs:
The Open Division will consist of 12 teams for the new season. The top six teams at the end of the season are seeded 1 through 6 to compete in the playoffs:
Quarter-finals:
Top two seeds each gets a BYE with an automatic entry into the semi-finals.
Quarter-finals Game 1: The 6 seed (Visitors) plays the 3 seed (Home team)
Quarter-finals Game 2: The 5 seed (Visitors) plays the 4 seed (Home team)
Semi-finals:
Winner of the Quarter-finals Game 2 (Visitors) plays the 1 seed (Home team), while the winner of the Quarter-finals Game 1 (Visitors) plays the 2 seed (Home team).
Championship:
The winners of the semi-final games play a championship game with the team with the best overall record (with tie breakers, if necessary) earning the home team designation.
Masters Division Playoffs:
For Fall 2016 Season, the SFBL will field six teams in the Masters Division (ages 30+). At the end of the season, the top three teams in the division will qualify to compete in the playoffs for a $1000 cash prize, Championship and MVP trophies, championship tshirts and authentic SFBL logo baseball caps.
The 30+ Masters Division teams must carry a roster of players turning 30 and older in the current year, with three exceptions. Masters Divisions teams are permitted to carry up to three players turning 27 and older in the current year, regardless of position played.
Semi-finals:
The Number 1 seed earns an automatic Bye into the Championship game.
The Number 3 seed (Visitors) plays the Number 2 seed (Home team).
Championship:
The winner of the semi-final game plays the top seed in a one game championship game for all the marbles and the greater glory.
