Johns Creek Wins Appeal in State Semifinal Baseball Game

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- On Monday, the Georgia High School Association's Board of Trustees voted to approve an appeal by Johns Creek High School concerning last week's Class 6A state semifinal baseball game.

The game was originally won by Lee County 5-3 in eight innings. With the board's approval, which carried by a vote of 5-2, the game will now revert back to the bottom of the seventh inning, with Johns Creek winning 4-3.

That outcome ties the series at a game apiece. A third and deciding game has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 24 at Lee County, exactly one week after the much talked-about ending that prompted the appeal, the association said.

The controversy arose during the seventh inning of the second game of the May 17 doubleheader in Leesburg. Lee County won the first game 7-4, but Johns Creek appeared to even the series when the Gladiators received a bases-loaded walk with the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning of the second game.

Lee County coach Brandon Brock approached the umpires, arguing that the Johns Creek runner on second base had not completed the play by touching third base. After a lengthy discussion, the umpires ruled that Brock was correct and, therefore, the winning run was taken away. The game then proceeded into extra innings and Lee County won 5-3 to apparently sweep the series 2-0 and advance to this week’s state championship game against Pope.

Citing inappropriate conduct by the umpires at the end of regulation play, Johns Creek appealed the ruling of GHSA Executive Director Gary Phillips that the game must stand as played. GHSA counsel Alan Connell ruled the appeal could go forward, so a four-member Appeal Board convened last Friday at the GHSA office in Thomaston to hear the case.

After a 90-minute presentation by both schools, the Appeal Board then voted 3-1 to deny Johns Creek High School's appeal. Following that decision, Johns Creek officials said they'd appeal the ruling to the full Board of Trustees.

Seven of the 10-member Board of Trustees convened at 10 a.m. Monday, May 22 in Thomaston to hear the appeal. Board member Wes Taylor recused himself since he previously served as principal at Lee County High School, and two members of the board simply could not make the meeting on such short notice.

Only six members of the 10-member panel are needed for a quorum, so the meeting proceeded with seven present: Glenn White, Lisa Moore Williams, Gary Long, Jim Finch, Joe Lancaster, Don Corr and Jesse Crews.
Crews originally made a motion, seconded by Finch, to deny the Johns Creek appeal again. But that motion failed 5-2.

White then made a motion, seconded by Williams, to approve the appeal and it passed by the same 5-2 vote. Crews and Finch voted against the measure.

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