Vote due on extending high school baseball, softball seasons

May 29, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

The days of high school baseball and softball state championship games conflicting with graduation ceremonies may be coming to an end.

Instead, those title games may be played weeks after diplomas are handed out.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association board of directors on Thursday will vote on a proposal which, if passed, will extend the baseball and softball seasons by two weeks.

If the proposal passes, the baseball and softball seasons would still begin in late March, and teams would still be limited to 27 regular-season games.

However, the start of the tournament would be pushed back by two weeks, with the state tournament taking place during the third weekend of June.

Currently, the state final four is played on the first weekend of June.

“We’ve polled athletic directors and coaches, and the majority are in favor of the change,” OHSAA director of communications Tim Stried said. “There really is no major drawbacks to the proposed change. There might be some unintended consequences, but most coaches and ADs feel as though the benefits far outweigh the negatives.”

The reasoning for the proposal is twofold. Prior to the start of the 2017 season, the OHSAA implemented a National Federation of State High School Association baseball pitch count rule. The proposal helps smaller schools with fewer players rotate pitchers.

Also, spring is the shortest of the three high school sports seasons, and by far the most challenging in terms of scheduling around the weather. Currently, teams are permitted to play their 27 regular-season games in a span of 42 days.

Niles baseball coach T.C. Guarnieri noted that in contrast, the 22-game high school basketball season is played out over the course of 12 weeks.

“Right now, we have to jump right into conference play because the weather is so unpredictable, we never know if we’re going to be able to get in all of our league games,” Guarnieri said. “Extending the regular season will alleviate so many scheduling headaches.”

Canfield coach Matt Koenig noted that his regular-season this year was cut short by four games due to weather. An extended season would have allowed for the Cardinals to play those four games.

“I know there are pros and cons to the proposal, there are a lot of dynamics that come into play,” Koenig said. “But for the kids playing the game, it provides more opportunities. You hate to see kids put in so much time and effort during the offseason, then have their season go haywire because of the weather.

“This could help ease some of the issues we face with the unpredictable spring weather.”

While area coaches appear to overwhelmingly favor the proposal, athletic directors aren’t as sold on the idea. Jeff Bayuk, Warren John F. Kennedy football coach and athletic director, said he believes extending the season would be “a mistake,” and noted that teams have always found a way to work around the weather in the past.

“Historically, June has always been a casual month for student-athletes, it’s sort of a time off for the multi-sport athletes,” Bayuk said. “Between graduations, vacations and everything else, I just wonder if this would be a big mistake.”

Poland athletic director Brian Banfield noted that many schools host football or basketball camps in mid-June, and some seniors even leave for college shortly after graduation.

“I understand why they want to do this, and there certainly are some benefits,” Banfield said. “But we have to consider how this will conflict with summer ball.

“Is it OK to extend the season into Father’s Day weekend? We have to remember that we’re dealing with student-athletes.”

Bill Nicholson, Warren Harding athletic director, noted that Harding seniors graduated this year on May 25. Had the proposed change been in effect, this year’s state tournament would finish on June 17.

“I know that playing for a state title is special, but at the same time you’re asking these graduates to hang around for a long time at a time when they have so much going on,” Nicholson said. “What if we have a very rainy late May or early June?

“Then the tournament could really get pushed back.”

Despite the possible drawbacks, Guarnieri said he believes a passage of the proposal will offer much more good than harm.

“I also coach summer ball, my son [who plays for Niles] plays in Class B, but my first commitment is to the Niles McKinley athlete,” Guarnieri said. “Look, the football tournament extends past the start of basketball season. The basketball tournament goes right up against baseball.”

“Right now, [baseball coaches] are so restricted, and the weather only makes things worse. This would benefit the sport.”