As fans of any sport that holds a legitimate form of postseason play, we look forward to seeing all the exciting and incredible matchups when these tournaments or events begin.

    When we get to see a Kansas/Kentucky basketball game in the NCAA tournament, people eat it up. The same goes for Duke/Syracuse, Indiana/UCLA, etc.

    In college football, we want to see the blue bloods go at each other much like Alabama and Notre Dame did in the 2013 title game (ignoring the final result, of course).

    Generally speaking, these top-tier programs will face off near the end of a tournament as a result of their own play and the organization of the event as a whole.

    Also in general, those who put together these events try to set everything up so that should these well-known teams meet up in the later rounds. The idea is to create as much excitement and emotion as possible. It’s all about ratings and drawing eyeballs to television sets.

    A North Carolina/Florida NCAA tournament game is going to get exponentially more views than one featuring Akron and Georgia.

    The same holds true for high school sports, even in the state of Idaho. People want to see the “blue bloods” go at one another, especially in state title games.

    So why can’t the IHSAA and United Dairymen of Idaho figure it out?

    Before the softball and baseball seasons even begin, the postseason brackets have already determined. We know beforehand that the 5A Fifth-Sixth District champion will play the winner of a play-in game featuring the fifth-place team out of District Three (Boise) and the second team from District One (Northern Idaho).

    Sometimes the predetermined matchups aren’t a big deal.

    But in 2013 they have been, and the tournament has suffered because of it.

    The 4A baseball tournament was set to have the Fifth-Sixth District champ face the runner-up from the Fourth District. This year that happened to be undefeated Bonneville and perennial power Twin Falls squaring off.

    You know, two baseball blue bloods playing early in what would likely be a fantastic state title game.

    Plus, Bishop Kelly, the second place team out of District Three, was placed on that same side of the bracket as well.

    In case you lost count, that’s three power teams at the 4A level fighting for one spot in the state final.

    The IHSAA and United Dairymen of Idaho should seed teams and place them in brackets after the regular season is completed. This wouldn’t ensure the two best teams meet in the final (nothing can), but it would balance out each side of the playing field.

    I don’t want to hear any complaints or suggestions that there isn’t enough time to make this happen. Tennis does it with a representative from each district on a conference call when the respective district tournaments are complete. Plus they have 16 singles players and 16 doubles teams for both boys and girls plus mixed doubles to seed and place in brackets.

    If it can be done with 80 tennis players and/or teams per classification, it can be done with eight baseball squads.

    Seeding teams after the regular season would not only be more fair to those involved, it would help set up some games or matchups for the ages in the latter portion of the brackets.

    Let’s make it happen. No excuses.