Last Updated 8/18/2008

The Classic League

A Classic Sweep!

The Classic League won all three brackets at the 2008 North Star Classic tournament.  Of course, it couldn't have ended any other way on the final day after six of the Classic League teams made up the finalists in all three brackets.  The Lakers defeated the Bulldogs in the AAA bracket, the Saints won a fourth consecutive championship of sorts with a win over the Warriors in the AA bracket and the Millers edged Crosstown Traffic in a close game in the A championship.  You can see all of the details on the tournament page.  Congratulations to all of the teams from both leagues on a successful first season and a great tournament.

Photos coming soon!  I have been asked numerous times when I'm going to post photos from the tournament and I'm getting to them as soon as possible.  I didn't shoot as much this year with the tournament set in two locations but I think there are some good shots in the group.

 

Lakers Sail Back To The Top

The Minnetonka Lakers put an exclamation mark on a superb season by winning a hard fought battle in the AAA championship game over the Burnsville Bulldogs by a score of 5-4.  Both teams played well and each had chances to put it away but it was the Lakers, behind starting pitcher Randy Moselle and reliever Jim Wheeler, that came out on top.  The Lakers were the best team in the Classic league all season and they proved they were the best team in the tournament and nailed down their first title since 2002.

Lakers
Front Row:  Lyle Schiltz, Sten Lindquist, Randy Moselle, Matt Miller, Dave McDonald, Marc Gingerich
Back Row:  Jack Peterson, Andy Patrias, Jim Wheeler, John Jensen, Brett Robertson, Paul Jaunich, John Tatley, Rod Schafer

 

It's Tournament Time!

With the 24-team North Star - Classic Championship being played at Loretto and Minnetonka, we're expecting a lot of good baseball over the next two weekends.  Hopefully we can draw a lot of fans to the two tournament sites and have a lot of fun.  Below is a little information on how the seeding and bracketing works for this tournament.

The first weekend of the state tournament will position 24 teams into eight 3-team pool playoffs Aug. 1-2-3 to determine the eight teams for each of the AAA, AA and A championship playoffs Aug. 8-9-10.  The second weekend will feature three, eight-team, single elimination tournaments.

Teams will be seeded 1 through 24 at the end of the regular season July 27 based on:

  • Winning percentage
  • Head-to-head competition
  • Runs allowed
  • Runs scored
  • Run differential (runs scored minus runs allowed)

Any games not played because of rainouts will count as losses for both teams for seeding purposes.

The eight-pools will be divided this way:

  1. 1, 16, 17
  2. 2, 15, 18
  3. 3, 14, 19
  4. 4, 13, 20
  5. 5, 12, 21
  6. 6, 11, 22
  7. 7, 10, 23
  8. 8,   9, 24

The eight pool winners will advance after each team plays two games against its pool foes. Ties of 1-1-1 will be broken by the same formula above.  See the Tournament page for more info.

 

 

Season Gets Off To A Slow, Cold Start

The 2008 season is finally underway after having the annual Burnsville double header tournament, a.k.a. The Ice Bowl, snowed out on April 26th and then, one week later, all of the openers on May 2nd we rained out to boot.  Play finally began on May 4th with the Bulldogs, Warriors and Traffic all notching wins.  JT’s was the first Classic League division team to defeat a North Star opponent, doubling up on Mounds View 14-7 and the Loretto Sox were the first North Star team to post a win against the Classic League division, nipping the Apple Valley A’s 4-2.  Things started to get back to normal the following week as the weather cooperated – for a change – on May 9th when the Warriors, Saints, Lakers and JT’s all posted wins before the league took a short holiday in honor of Mother’s Day.  Things should really begin to heat up this weekend as there is a full slate of games scheduled, including six interleague games, and the forecast actually looks halfway decent.  Check out the Schedule page to keep up on all of the action and be sure to check back often.

 

The Classic League and the NSSBL Agree to 2008 Merger

Welcome to the home of The Classic League.  The Classic League is a 35+ age baseball league in the Twin Cities metro area and is comprised of nine teams.  For the 2008 season we will join forces with the North Star Senior Baseball League and play primarily as an independent division within the NSSBL for the regular season with a limited number of interleague games and we will participate fully in the combined postseason tournament.

We in The Classic League see this as a significant step toward the unification of over 35 baseball in the state and are very excited with the potential impact of this union.  The merger, which was approved unanimously by both leagues at their respective winter meetings, creates a strong 25 team league and adds nearly two decades of experience to the relatively young, though well-organized and vibrant, NSSBL.  Each league agreed to a few relatively minor rule changes to make the transition easier for all.  Everyone in The Classic League is eager for the chance to meet their new friends and rivals from the NSSBL and we look forward to getting to know, and compete with, all of them.  This website will provide access to league and team information as well as schedules, game results and standings along with other relevant information.


The Classic League is always looking for new players and especially new teams.  Anyone interested in joining the Classic League may contact any of the league directors listed below for more information.

 

Commissioners / Directors
President:  Kent Rogers (Warriors)
Treasurer:  Myron Carlson (Crosstown Traffic)
Secretary:  Scott Gatzke (Saints)
     

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions or concerns about this site, please email the webmaster.