Could the league get any tougher?

In 2015, it was penned 2014 was most likely the toughest season in the PBL. Could 2015 be even tougher?

It just may.

With the addition of the perennial finalists of the Battle River Baseball League in the Rosalind Athletics, and last year’s young teams gaining experience and recruits, one has to wonder how an eight team league with just four teams making playoffs will play out.

The league has never quite been able to sustain eight teams. The year it did move to eight teams, Chipman folded midway through the campaign and the league had a significant drop-off between playoff-bound teams and those below the cut.

That may not be the case again this year. Rosalind is considered a contender due to their good inter-league play and final appearances at tournaments and in their league. Ryley is the defending champions. Armena and Holden are still young and hungry. Bardo and Leduc have the experience to win any night. Camrose, despite the the hiccup last year, can rebound.

Every night could produce three or even four close games. With such competitiveness, one has to wonder if the playoff format could be tweaked to accommodate one or two more teams in a one-game playoff to reward first or second place and allow for teams to play most everyone in the regular season.

If not, expect each and every game to mean the world. We saw last year what happened. It all came down to one loss for all five playoff teams. We’ve also seen a one-game playoff now two of the past four years.

Either way, a most interesting season is going to be played out. It could all come down to who shows up on one given night in May.