GHSA Class A public baseball playoffs on hold

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com
 

          While the GHSA Class A private schools are playing baseball Thursday night, the Class A public schools will be anxiously awaiting their turn.

          The GHSA was handed an injunction that forced the delay of the second round of the baseball playoffs for public schools, ostensibly because, according to assorted reports, of a dispute regarding the seedings involving Charlton County and Irwin County in Region 2.

          The GHSA sent out a statement late Wednesday afternoon.

          “Because of a legal injunction placed on the GHSA Wednesday, all Class A-Public second round baseball series are being suspended until further notice. 

          “’While we hope to have this matter resolved quickly, we do not anticipate it being finalized in time to start the series on the scheduled date of Thursday, May 3. All other second-round series are to proceed as scheduled.

            “We will notify all participating schools and game officials as soon as we are notified by the court.

          “We apologize for any inconvenience this may create.’’

          Charlton County self-reported a violation of the pitch count rule after a win over Irwin County for the region title. Reports indicate that Charlton County was told there would be no additional punishment, but Irwin County found out and pressed it, and the GHSA ruled the game a forfeit.

          The exact timeline hasn’t been reported.

          Thus, both teams’ seedings were changed – Class A uses a points and ranking system for seedings in most sports – for the postseason, making Irwin County No. 2 and Charlton County No. 5.

          Both teams got first-round byes, as the top eight seeds do.

          Charlton County was to host Taylor County in the second round and Irwin County was to welcome Trion.

          But there is an appeals process for classes using power rankings, and that deadline was April 23, two days after the end of the regular season.

          GHSA assistant executive director Ernie Yarbrough sent out an email Wednesday to Class A public teams about the situation, but many were already on the road to their destination. Taylor County, for example, is more than 200 miles from Charlton County.

          Teams with byes haven’t played since April 21 at the latest, unless they scheduled a game after the rankings came out and they found out they had a bye.

          The GHSA will appeal on Thursday in Atlanta.