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Positive Feedback To Baseball Extension

A dreary spring just got a little brighter with the Ohio High School Athletic Association decision to extend the baseball season by one week. The ruling, which takes effect in 2019, comes less than a year after the OHSAA voted down a request by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association to add two weeks to the spring season.

“The baseball coaches did a nice job of scaling things back to one week,” said OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross, who will be retiring effective Sept. 15 after 14 years at the helm. “What probably also helped is the spring schedule. A lot of teams haven’t even hit five ball games yet. One southwest school I talked to last week had played only three games and had not had an outdoor practice.

“It will also give a little stretch with the pitch count,” added Ross about the change, which will not affect the number of games permitted in the regular season. That will remain at 27. “I think the coaches are happy with it.”

While the change comes too late to help out a 2018 campaign that has been hampered by extreme weather conditions, coaches around the state are more than delighted with the determination to increase the number of days permitted to play.

“I think the season getting extended is long overdue to help us deal with the exact issue we currently have with weather,” said Kenny Linn, head coach of defending Division II state champion Tallmadge.

Bill Gamble, who led Massillon Jackson to the Division I state crown in 2017, feels the change is long overdue.

“One week will help a lot of schools,” Gamble noted. “Teams will be able to space games out and give top-end arms more rest.”

Wapakoneta head coach Jason Brandt is also thankful for the decision.

“I feel extending the season is a no-brainer here in Ohio,” explained Brandt, whose unbeaten squad has had 12 games cancelled due to inclement weather so far this year. “I, along with many coaches, are thankful for the work of Jerry Snodgrass and the OHSBCA for getting the ball rolling and getting the OHSAA to approve this matter. This is outstanding for high school baseball in Ohio.

“We already have the shortest season from the time of the first game until tournament play (42 days) and we’re supposed to get 27 games in during this time with 12 of those days being Sundays and Wednesdays which a lot of schools are not allowed to even play on,” continued Brandt. “So when you look at it that way, that gives us minimal time to practice once the season begins. This will now allow for us to have some wiggle room with practices and games. I am looking forward to this extension.”

Moeller head coach Tim Held sees more practice time as one of the benefits..

“I’m excited to only have to schedule four or five games a week instead of five or six and to be able to practice once we get started,” explained the 11th-year head coach, who has led the Crusaders to four D-I state titles. “The way things are set up now, we hardly have an opportunity to practice outside on a nice day because we have to play on every nice day that we get.”

There is also the student portion of student-athlete that comes into play.

“I think the decision will benefit everyone and give the players a chance to be home one or two evenings a week to get homework done, study etc,” Held said.

There will be adaptation needed, however, according to Linn.

“I worry about the adjustment early on for coaches and for the seniors because they seem to be getting out of school earlier and earlier in May so it can be a challenge to keep them committed and focused,” Linn pointed out.

While some have concerns with cutting into the summer break, Linn sees no problem.

“Summer teams and tournaments will adjust and will not be an issue,” Linn proclaimed.

As for the length of the extension and the timing of it, thoughts vary on that subject.

“I’ve got mixed feelings,” Gamble said. “I’d rather extend it, but also start the season one week later. I have 10 kids that were on our (basketball) tournament team that made it to the Sweet 16. That gets us off to a late start in baseball.”

Even players see both sides of the issue.

“I think it’s going to be beneficial,” noted Lakota East sophomore Nathan Haberthier. “Expanding the season gives us more opportunities to play more teams, but it’s also bad for summer ball. So I see good and bad with it.”

Another concern is the availability of Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers where the Final Four has been held since 2009

“The International League is changing,” explained Ross. “They used to give teams a week to choose to be out of town and the Clippers did that for us. Now the IL has rescinded that and there can’t be a guarantee any more. There is only one waiver and that is Louisville (for the Kentucky Derby).

“They want to work with us,” Ross continued about the Clippers. “But it will be difficult if the facilities are not available. If they can’t confirm it, we’ve heard people say why not Ohio State. But they’re in the same boat with their schedule and can’t confirm it.”

However, in the eyes of Ross the good far outweighs the bad.

“This is a start, we’ll see where it goes,” Ross said. “I think they’ll look at the data and decide. Did they get more games in? How did the use of pitching work? They’ll analyze that data and see where it goes from here. I don’t think it will be in a year, but they’ll see what kind of success they’ve had with this.”

Mason’s Curt Bly, head coach of the top-ranked Division I team in the state, summed up the feelings of many.

“The OHSAA ruling can only bring about positive change for our players and teams,” Bly said. “While one week isn't enough and that the two-week proposal could really have made a great impact, I'm happy the Association saw fit to make this adjustment.”

Ross is also pleased with the change, which will move the state Final Four in 2019 from May 30-June 1 to June 6-8.

“I was for it before,” Ross said in reference to the two-week extension that was turned down by a 7-2 vote back in September. “It’s for the kids, that’s what this is all about.”