NDCL seeks completion against Canfield

The Lions are seeking a reversal of the forfeit ruling last Friday.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

CHARDON — A Geauga County judge will hold a hearing this morning on whether last week’s regional high school baseball game between Canfield and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin should be completed.

Last Friday in Hudson, Canfield was awarded a 7-0 forfeit when ND-CL was found using an ineligible player.

The game was in the fourth inning and delayed by lightning when the Canfield coaching staff noticed that the ineligible player, pitcher Mike Muenster, was not on the 18-man roster submitted by ND-CL coach Jim Clark.

After discussions that lasted more than an hour and included calls to OHSAA headquarters in Columbus, Canfield was awarded the forfeit.

Saturday, ND-CL athletic director Frank Platzar spoke with OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross and assistant commissioner John Dickerson, trying to get the punishment changed from a forfeit to a player ejection.

Platzar said Ross told him that the ruling could not be appealed to the OHSAA because it was an umpires ruling. Platzar contends that OHSAA officials made the ruling.

Staying focused

Tuesday, Canfield coach Matt Koenig told his players before practice to focus on Friday’s state appearance, Canfield’s third since 1998.

“I told them we really don’t know what’s going on as far as the court hearing goes,” Koenig said.

Canfield athletic director Gregory Cooper said the school has tried to “stand back” from the controversy until it is resolved.

Cooper spoke with OHSAA officials at Tuesday’s tournament organization meeting in Columbus, but has no plans to attend the court hearing.

“There has been no request that we attend and, at this point, we’re reluctant to jump in unless we’re asked or advised to do so,” Cooper said. “The one thing we’re sure of is that we’re going to play another baseball game this season.

“I don’t know if that will be in the final four or as part of a makeup game or a continuation of a game in progress, but we know we’ll play again.”

Cooper said no one at Canfield was happy to advance via forfeit and would have preferred to settle the matter on the field.

“When we parted on Friday, I told the Cathedral Latin athletic director that I didn’t know what would come of this, but I hope whichever team emerges from our region wins the state championship,” Cooper said.