The Shadow
PIONEER DISTRICT BASEBALL TOURNAMENT — Bath County’s Tanner Plecker takes a big swing as Covington’s Derek Dressler gives a target at May’s Pioneer District tournament at Casey Field. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
PIONEER DISTRICT BASEBALL TOURNAMENT — Bath County’s Tanner Plecker takes a big swing as Covington’s Derek Dressler gives a target at May’s Pioneer District tournament at Casey Field. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
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The importance of the district tournament has seen a dramatic decrease in the last decade.
It hasn’t been that long ago, when in most sports, the tournament was the only way of qualifying for regional play if your team hadn’t won the regular season title.
With expanded regional tournament fields the past few years, critical district tournament games were fewer and far between.
Fast forward to 2013-2014.
In some districts, such as the Blue Ridge in most sports, the postseason league events are a thing of the past altogether.
But the Pioneer District has elected to keep the format as in the past, although the tournaments will have no meaning when it comes to advancing to the state playoffs.
“If we were going to have a district, then we wanted to keep recognizing district athletes,” said Bath County athletic director Will Fields. “That was the general consensous. And we have to have district tournaments to buy trophies and medals. Patriculary the basketball tournanment — it pays the bills.”
Both the Chargers and Covington will continue to join Craig County, James River, Parry McCluer and Highland County in playing in district postseason events.
But a lot of the teams will then separate for conference tournaments on the path to regional and state events.
Bath County, Covington and Craig County combine with Bland County, Auburn, Eastern Montgomery, Radford and Narrows to form Group A’s Western Gate Conference 45.
Parry McCluer and Highland County head east to join Altavista, William Campbell, Lunenburg Central, Cumberland and Galileo Magnet in Group A’s Conference 44.
James River will step up to Group AA’s River Run Conference 38 with Floyd County, Giles County, Glenvar and Martinsville.
Postseason football will also get a new look for both the Chargers and Cougars.
The past two years, both local schools were in the Eastern Region, prompting trips to Franklin, Rappahannock and Sussex Central.
This year the two teams will be in the Western Region.
Group A, in the new 6-class Virginia High School League system is composed of 54 schools — 26 in the Eastern Region and 28 in the Western Region.
The following is a complete list of Group A schools with their school enrollment:
GROUP A
EASTERN REGION
Conference 41
Appomattox Gov. School (344)
Chincoteague (148)
Northampton (460)
Franklin (308)
Surry County (268)
Sussex Central (339)
Conference 42
King & Queen (222)
Mathews (418)
Middlesex (354)
West Point (249)
Charles City (224)
Chesterfield Comm. (310)
Conference 43
Rappahannock County (263)
Colonial Beach (175)
Essex (467)
Lancaster (379)
Northumberland (438)
Rappahannock (342)
Washington & Lee (473)
Conference 44
Altavista (410)
William Campbell (323)
Central – Lunenburg (445)
Cumberland (454)
Galileo Magnet (233)
Highland County (67)
Parry McCluer (324)
GROUP A
WESTERN REGION
Conference 45
Bath County (229)
Bland/Rocky Gap (303)
Covington (232)
Craig County (212)
Auburn (370)
Eastern Montgomery (276)
Radford (442)
Narrows (227)
Conference 46
Chilhowie (446)
PH – Glade Spring (405)
Rural Retreat (357)
George Wythe (451)
Fort Chiswell (457)
Galax (381)
Conference 47
Council (104)
Haysi (315)
Honaker (379)
Hurley (178)
Twin Valley (226)
Holston (297)
Northwood (261)
Conference 48
Castlewood (337)
Eastside (441)
Rye Cove (213)
Twin Springs (235)
Thomas Walker (254)
J.I. Burton (279)
Clintwood (356)
