So Cal Dad:
You are obviously very familiar with the ASA Code and have a talent for getting it to hang together. How do you conclude that an ASA State Tournament awarding 4 berths to USA/ASA is not a "National Qualifier". I searched the ASA Code for a definition of "National Qualifier" that would exclude a State Championship offering berths and couldn't find anything.
Also, while I acknowledge that you provided an explanation earlier this year of why pick-up player rules can be modified by Local Associations, I haven't found anything that says the 513.M rule can be modified. To the contrary, the ASA Code provides that with respect to other rules:
LEVELS OF CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY. The following are levels of championship
play:
"A. Local Association Championships. Local Associations championship play at the state or metro championship, must follow ASA Code requirements except that Local Association rules may be enacted for run ahead rules, time limits, uniforms ( except that a minimum must be shirts that are like in color and style with numbers on the back ), home run rules, stealing, metal cleats and fence distances."
I couldn't find anything in the Code that allowed the local association to change the 513.M rule relating to existing berth holders. So absent a specific ASA Code provision, how does ASA Ohio supplant the ASA Code rule on teams that hold existing berths?
Don't say this for the sheer sake of arguing; I'm just really struggling with how Ohio ASA can create a local exception on this point. As I said, I know about the Code provision that you cited regarding the rule on pick-up players prior to the local association championship, but the Code provision that I cited above seems clearly to require application of ASA Code 513.m unless I'm missing something somewhere else in the Code.