North Division | South Division |
---|---|
Cascade Crush | Diamond Sports Upperclass |
FCA Underclass | New Level 2026s |
King County Mets | Tacoma Baseball Club |
Merchants | Titans Green |
Shoreline Royals | USA Prime |
Washington Rush | West Sound Seawolves |
The mission of the Top Tier College Prep League is to bring together highly competitive 18U programs, with the goal of providing recruitment opportunities for uncommitted players, competitive games for the teams, and to prepare the players for what baseball will be like at the next level. All teams in the league will receive an entry into the Top Tier College Showcase (to play 3 league games), and play 4 additional league games on local college campuses in front of college coaches. Additionally, the league will host a winter recruiting seminar, and have social media and PAC NW Regional Baseball coverage at select games throughout the season to promote the players and programs in the league.
College Prep Division (18U)
– Two divisions (North, South) – 6 teams per division
– League play starts after Memorial Day; consists of 16 league games
– 3 league games & league all-star game at the College Showcase
– 4 league games hosted at local colleges
– Top 8 teams qualify for College World Series style league playoffs (late July)
– All remaining teams will compete in an end-of-season tournament (late July – same time as league playoffs)
On a Sunday in early-March, league teams get together (generally at Husky Ballpark at the University of Washington) to collectively create the league schedule. Each team brings their home field allocations and sits in a room with other coaches in their division. The league sets the parameters (play everyone 2x in division, 1x out of division, start/end dates, etc.) and from there, the coaches make their own schedule. This allows all teams the autonomy to control when and where they play.
NOTE: For the College Prep League, the matchups at the colleges and in the College Showcase will be preset prior to the meeting
Once all team schedules have been created, coaches/GMs submit their individual schedules to the league office. Everything from that point forward is taken care of by league officials – the creation of the master schedule, league administration, assigning umpires, scores & standings tracking, etc. This scheduling process has worked extremely well, allowing teams to really have control of their entire schedule, from league play to tournaments, while building in days off and working around any potential conflicts (spring break, graduation, etc.)
ALL teams in each division will participate in some sort of postseason play
League Playoffs
– Teams that qualify for the league playoffs will participate in a College World Series style postseason
– There will be two pools consisting of 4 teams each. These pools will play a mini-double elimination tournament over a three-day period (Friday – Sunday)
– The two pool winners will face off in a best-of-three league championship series over a two-day period (Tuesday – Wednesday) to determine the league champion
– The league champion will play the 18U Top Tier East champion in a three-game series at the Top Tier State Championships
League Tournament (Consolation Bracket)
– Teams that do not qualify for the league playoffs will participate in a 3-day double-elimination tournament
– This tournament will take place at the same time as the league playoffs, ensuring that ALL teams in each division can plan for games on that weekend
Regular Season
Each team in the league is responsible to reserve and pay for fields for their regular season home games. This allows for teams to have a true “home field” and to set their own schedule within the league guidelines. The cost to each team will vary based on location, quality, and size of field. This leaves each organization’s field budget within their own control.
NOTE: For the College Prep League, 7 of the 16 games will be at sites hosted by the league during the College Showcase as well as the games at hosted local colleges
Postseason
All postseason fields for Top Tier Elite League contests will be reserved by the league office. Locations will be a mix of north and south end fields to allow for higher seeded teams to play closer to home in the league playoffs or postseason tournament.
Top Tier Sports has strong relationships with the top umpire associations in the area. We contract out with each of those groups to provide the best available officials for league games, including our postseason.
– Following the annual league scheduling meeting, Top Tier Sports compiles a league master schedule, and works with local umpire associations to ensure coverage for all league contests
– Once the initial schedule is set, the league office works in conjunction with the coaches in the league and the respective umpire association to communicate any schedule changes due to conflicts, weather, etc.
Baden Sports is the official ball of Top Tier Sports. All baseballs used in Top Tier league & tournament contacts must be Baden baseballs
– League fees will cover 5 dozen Baden game balls per team. Teams with existing Baden relationships can opt out of the ball cost
– The College Prep League will use Baden 3BB-Perfection Pro baseballs
The total cost for the College Prep League is $4,000 which is all inclusive:
– League administration fees
– Umpire fees (regular season and postseason)
– Postseason fields and awards
– Baden game balls ($250 opt-out optional for teams who have their own deal with Baden)
Contact our league director Derek Bingham for more information and to request a league invite
Email: Derek Bingham
Cell: (206) 465-8690