The stated mission of the KSHSAA offers that safety, quality, and fairness are vital in activities.
Activities strive to improve life skills, build character and promote honesty and integrity.
However, the lack of consistent administration for weather-delayed baseball and softball championships sadly showed how the KSHSAA regime came up short of its stated goals.
Every baseball and softball championship site was on its own, literally making up the rules and start times as they went along. Some tournaments were delayed at the last minute. Class 4A baseball and Class 3A softball was delayed for three days — then started on a Sunday.
The fields were fine for 4A softball at Salina. Not so fine for 4A baseball at Salina.
At some sites, a third-place game was important. At others, the third-place game was not played despite perfect weather. Again, every tournament site went by its own set of rules.
Only a late-night decision by Jeremy Holaday prevented a potentially foolish decision to end a Class 2A baseball game before seven innings were played.
The poorest decisions were made in baseball classes that vacated the third-place games. Class 4A McPherson, Class 4A Concordia and Class 2A Medicine Lodge were given 30 minutes to compose themselves after winning semifinal games when third-place games were not played.
What’s the hurry? Give them an hour.
Those teams had virtually no chance against teams which had rested and refueled for three hours. It’s no surprise that all three teams were shut out — 15-0, 11-0 and 2-0.
In fact, five of six state baseball champions came from the top of the bracket, which gained about three hours extra rest and relaxation.
At least softball teams played their semifinal games at the same time, negating that advantage.
The rescheduled times were also confusing. Is there any logical reason why softball championship games should start before noon?
The worst decision of the weekend came when an umpire threw out a Larned player for offering his opinion on a called strike. A wiser, more experienced umpire would’ve simply ignored the comment.
Sadly, that’s the memory Larned’s baseball team will take away from the state tournament.
Larned’s baseball team deserved better.

Jim Misunas