By Sonny Jones
“Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” sung by the late Meat Loaf in 1977, is a musical classic.
However, two out of three is only 67%. Three out of four is better and 75% was the correct projection rate in Monday’s column for Bladen County opponents in the state playoffs that are scheduled to begin Tuesday.
It was correctly projected:
• The West Bladen baseball team would be the top seed in 2A East and play No. 32 seed St. Pauls. The Knights already have two wins against St. Pauls this season.
• The East Bladen baseball team would move up a spot to No. 6 in 1A and play No. 27 Hobgood Academy.
• Although the seedings were a spot off, it was correct that the West Bladen softball team, seeded No. 21 instead of projected No. 20, would play Bunn, seeded No. 11 instead of projected No. 12.
Missed the opponent for the East Bladen softball team. The Eagles, seeded No. 22 instead of projected No. 23, will play No. 11 Vance Charter instead of the projected No. 8 Pamlico County.
Close, but no cigar. However, three out of four ain’t bad.
• The two Bladen softball teams appear to be playing teams that deserve to be seeded much higher, but because N.C. High School Athletic Association rules seed conference champions first before filling the remainder of the bracket, some usually strong teams are seeded after the top 10. Based on the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), Vance Charter (11-4) was No. 5 in 1A East and Bunn (16-4) was No. 2 in 2A East. Since neither were the top seed from their conferences, each were dropped out of the top 10.
• The East Bladen baseball team potentially faces the same situation in its second round game if the Eagles beat Hobgood Academy and No. 11 Oxford Prep beats No. 22 Wake Prep. Oxford Prep is 18-2, was rated No. 2 in RPI in 1A East and its two losses this season came against No. 1 Voyager Academy.
• Conference champions won’t automatically move up in seeding next year, the NCHSAA Board of Directors decided last week. Playoff pairings will be determined by RPI only.
The state is moving to eight classifications for 2025-26 and there are conferences with as many as three classifications and/or only one team in a classification.
For example, next school year East Columbus will be the lone 1A team in a conference that has 2A East Bladen, Hobbton, Lakewood, North Duplin, Union and West Columbus.
West Bladen will be 3A with Whiteville and South Columbus along with 4A Fairmont and Red Springs and 5A South Brunswick.
Yes, the regular season standings will be confusing as far as playoff implications.
POTATO’S PICKS TO WATCH TUESDAY
• NHL Playoffs: Carolina at Washington, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
• NBA Playoffs: Indiana at Cleveland, 7 p.m. (TNT, TRUTV)
• MLB: San Diego at New York Yankees, 7 p.m. (TBS)
• NHL Playoffs: Edmonton at Vegas, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
• NBA Playoffs: Golden State at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. (TNT, TRUTV)
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
Author: Sonny Jones
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