The AAU has announced its 2013 format for its renowned Men’s International Fastpitch Championship. Ken Hackmeister, tournament director for the event, confirms there will be a four-game guarantee. Teams will be placed in pools of four offering three games in pool play on Thursday and Friday. All teams will then advance to a single-elimination playoff on Saturday and Sunday.
Hackmeister said, “This is the format that the teams which have attended our event for many years now have come to know. Consistency in format and quality is something we want to make sure our teams can expect: quality competition, quality facilities, quality officiating, and quality planning and management.”
Hackmeister continued, “As for pitching, North American teams tend to embrace the ISC pitching rules while South American teams rely on ISF rules. At the AAU tourney, we will allow each team to choose and announce to the umpires at the beginning of each game which rule they will be employing. With this approach, no team will be forced to make adjustments to the pitching rules they play during their regular season. Teams may not switch pitching rules mid-game, however. Once a team elects a pitching approach at the beginning of a game, that will be its mandated rule for the duration of that specific contest”.
The AAU Men’s International Fastpitch Championship will be held January 24-27, 2013 at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort. For further information visit www.aaufastpitch.org or contact Debra Horn: 407-828-3459 or debra@aausports.org.