Heartland Fastpitch League: AFCS Rundown and FAQ

By: Carson Staponski 

What is the AFCS? 

The Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) aims to mirror the collegiate postseason. However, instead of being 3 weeks long, the AFCS will be held over 6 days. It is the culminating event for the top teams in each league. The purpose of this kind of competition is to name one national champion for each age level and tier. 

How does a team qualify? 

A team must earn a Tier l or Tier ll berth to the AFCS by competing in qualifying events leading up to the AFCS. If your team does not qualify, there is also an AFCS open division . This is designed for teams who do not receive Tier I or II berths. 

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series Open Division? 

The Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series Open Division is the championship series that will allow all Alliance teams to participate in a culminating league event. There will be Open Division tournaments for each age group.

Any Alliance team that does not earn a Tier I or Tier II berth will be eligible to participate in the AFCS Open. There will not be any berths or qualifications for the Open. You can register now.  

What will each round look like? 

With 64 teams allowed, days 1 and 2 will be the first regional rounds. Those 64 teams will be broken into 16 regionals with 4 teams in each one. A double elimination bracket will be put in place. The losers will be pushed to a Qualifying bracket, and the winners will be sent straight to Super Regionals. Supers will take place days 3 and 4. The 16 teams to make it out of Regionals will play a best of 3 series. The winners will make it to the final World Series; this will be days 4, 5, and 6. The remaining 8 teams will be put into a double elimination bracket with the championship game being a best of three series. The losers from regionals that were sent to the Qualifying bracket will also compete for a Qualifying bracket champion. 

Where and when will the AFCS take place? 

Age                             Dates                                              Location

10U Tier l            Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Southern Cal

12U Tier 1/11      Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Southern Cal

14U Tier l/ll        Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Viera, FL

16U Tier l/ll        Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Oklahoma City, OK

18U Tier l/ll        Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Oklahoma City, OK

AFCS Open Division dates and locations:

Age                Dates                                              Location

10U West   Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Southern Cal

10U East    Mon. July 26-Sat. July 31.         Bentonville, AR

12U West   Mon. July 26- Sat. July 31         Southern Cal

12U East    Mon. July 26- Sat. July 31         Bentonville, AR

14U             Tues. July 27- Sun. Aug 1           Clearwater, FL

16U             Mon. July 26- Sat. July 31          Broken Arrow, OK

18U             Mon. July 26- Sat. July 31          Broken Arrow, OK