So playoffs have gotten down to the semi-finals with a few teams having swept to secure spots in the championship games and others needing a win tonight to secure their spot. To that point, two really interesting stories coming out of Georgia.
To set the stage, each round of the playoffs in Georgia are a best of three series. Day 1 being a DH and day 2 being the "if needed" game to decide who advances.
Story 1
First was second round in 7-A class (highest) where Mill Creek was facing defending State Champion Walton. The two teams split the day 1 DH (Wednesday) when rain delays had pushed the "if" game back a day. In second game of the DH, Mill Creek threw a pitcher in relief who clocked 42 pitches. Under GHSA pitch count rules, this requires one day rest, which the rain delay provided. The relief pitcher started Game 3 on the mound on Friday.
For the playoffs (this rule did not apply at any point during the regular season), GHSA changed the pitch count maximum from 110 pitches in a day to 120 pitches over a three day span. Under the regular season rules, the MC pitcher would have had his one day rest and been allowed to throw 110 pitches without exceeding any regular pitch count rule, but with this new rule, he had only 78 pitches before he would be forced off the mound.
So in a tight game, he reached his 78th pitch in the 5th inning at which point the HC refused to remove him from the game. Under GHSA rule, the only penalty for this is a 2 game suspension and $250 fine which the coach accepted. The pitcher went on to throw 110 pitches total in the complete game win and advance. They subsequently advanced to the semi's and split last night (taking the first game 1-0 in 11 innings). They play the "if" game tonight and will be in the championship with a win.
Story 2
In last night's semi final DH, Lee County faced Johns Creek and took game 1. Lee County led game two heading to the bottom of the 7th by a 3-2 score. Johns Creek tied the game and had bases loaded with two out. A walk pushed what appeared to be the winning run across the plate. Lee County HC protested that the base runner from second never touched third, constituting abandonment and the third out, negating the go ahead run.
After a 20 minute delay, several phone calls to GHSA and some "rule-booking", the umpires overturned the call and ruled the out, taking the run off the board and taking the game into extra innings. Lee County plated two in the top of the 8th to get the 5-3 win and sweep to advance.
Now the game outcome is under protest by Johns Creek claiming that the rules state that only the Batting Runner (player walked) and the third base runner (player scoring) are required to actually "touch up". A quick check seems to me that this is the MLB rule and that NFHS requires all Runners "touch up"
http://www.walb.com/story/3545...e-in-bizarre-fashion
It's possible that the victory will be awarded to Mill Creek on appeal and they'll have to play the "if" game to settle who advances. No idea when GHSA will rule (would guess today and play the "if" game as scheduled today if ruling goes Johns Creek way).