from the St. Tammany Parish Press Group
In Slidell, LA as the news broke that the Fourlane Green Tide would not be hosting an NCAA Division IV super regional despite being the highest seed in their pairing, fans, coaches, and players were quick to fire their opinions. "I understand what the NCAA is trying to do here, but to me it only takes away from the kids who fought hard to earn the right to play at home." said Fourlane head coach Marquis Bourbobendeaux. The NCAA announced Tuesday after the conclusion of the regionals that Fourlane would not be hosting at home against Joliet State and Bonneville, but would rather have to pack their bags for Barrow, AK in an attempt by the league to expand college baseball to the northern most regions of the continent.
"There's some good baseball in southern Alaska, AK Ketchikan is an example of that, but up north they really haven't been exposed to it yet. Teams like Nome College and Bethel College are really at a disadvantage because people just don't come out for games like they do in the southeast and southwest." said NCAA Division IV commissioner Mel Bozario.
Critics maintain that the state of Alaska did nothing to garner the host, and they point to the sparse crowds at all northern Alaskan baseball games. This season, Nome College, which is the closest to Barrow despite still being hundreds of miles to the south, averaged just 0.3 fans per game; with most games being played in front of a completely empty bench. Skeptics are also quick to question the existence of a suitable facility to play ball in Barrow.
Commissioner Bozario contends, "We have been assured by officials up there (in Barrow) that they have constructed a top notch baseball facility over the past four days. Many are familiar with the Barrow High School football team due to their recent national exposure. Well, they have graciously let us convert their gravel former football field into a ballpark."
After photos of the field were released, fans complained that there was no backstop or seating for that matter, but Bozario maintains that special arrangements will be made, possibly using "oil drums as multipurpose backstops and seating".
Some Fourlane officials question whether the recent decision has to do with the gulf oil spill and the smell that it has created around their waterfront facility rather than the goal of growing Division IV baseball, but Bozario assures, "It has nothing to do with that. They need baseball down there right now, but it isn't as pressing as the need in the north." He did go on to mention that there "might be a need to revaluate the Fourlane mascot though. With the recent crisis, I'm not sure that the name 'Green Tide' is the best suited." A panel to rule on this may be formed as soon as next month. As for the Fourlane baseball team, they are currently packing sweaters to deal with the cold.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Marco College's Barrett Skittles Extends Hit Streak to 5
from the Allied Press
In the Kissimmee Regional, history unfolded as Marco College second baseman Barrett Skittles extended his hitting streak to 5 games, which is second all-time in NCAA Division IV history. The current record is 763 held by Fort Oglethorpe's legendary catcher Ethan Gragensky, who, between 1993 and 2006 got a hit in every Punter game. Gragensky just concluded his 19th season with the team. Said Skittles when asked about staying for another season to pursue Gragensky's record, "I don't know right now. I really want to; I think I'm close, but it's all going to come down to how highly I'm drafted." Skittles currently is not projected to be drafted by the MLB, but potentially could end up as a late round pick in the supplemental Seaboard Coast League independent minor league draft. Marco College ended their season Saturday.
In the Kissimmee Regional, history unfolded as Marco College second baseman Barrett Skittles extended his hitting streak to 5 games, which is second all-time in NCAA Division IV history. The current record is 763 held by Fort Oglethorpe's legendary catcher Ethan Gragensky, who, between 1993 and 2006 got a hit in every Punter game. Gragensky just concluded his 19th season with the team. Said Skittles when asked about staying for another season to pursue Gragensky's record, "I don't know right now. I really want to; I think I'm close, but it's all going to come down to how highly I'm drafted." Skittles currently is not projected to be drafted by the MLB, but potentially could end up as a late round pick in the supplemental Seaboard Coast League independent minor league draft. Marco College ended their season Saturday.
Twenty Four Teams Advance to Super Regional Play
from the Allied Press
As the tragic events in Fort Worth highlighted, Division IV baseball is serious business, and after last weekend, twenty four teams took a step closer to getting the job done. Nineteen of the twenty four one seeds advanced, with only 2-seeds: College of Greenville, Tombigbee, UT Lubbock, Hollywood, and Bonneville upsetting the top team in their respective pairings. There were several close games as well. Daniel Boone College nearly shocked the nation, when, as a 4-seed they forced a second deciding game with Hollywood and lost in the bottom of the ninth after a solo homerun by Gene Martin put the Stars on top. All in all, six regionals were determined by one run. The Division IV Baseball Chairman called this year's baseball tournament, "the best one since last season."
The teams which won advance to eight super regionals. Each super regional consists of three teams in a double elimination format, with the 2 and 3-seeds playing the first game. Play begins this week. The Super Regional pairings are:
Prescott, AZ: 1. Ascot State, 2. UNC Boone, 3. Cabrillo College
Williamsburg, VA: 1. Peyton Randolph, 2. Anderson Greenwood, 3. College of Greenville
Strasburg, PA: 1. Penn Dutch, 2. Kokomo College, 3. Tombigbee
Burbank, CA: 1. Burbank Tech, 2. IUPUEMC, 3. UT Lubbock
Thomasville, GA: 1. Thomasville Tech, 2. LaJolla S&M, 3. Carlsbad State
Flagstaff, AZ: 1. Flagstaff State, 2. Phoenix, 3. Hollywood
Cape Charles, VA: 1. Cape Charles College, 2. Sporting Hill College, 3. College of Cape Cod
Barrow, AK (Slidell, LA): 1. Fourlane, 2. Joliet State, 3. Bonneville
As the tragic events in Fort Worth highlighted, Division IV baseball is serious business, and after last weekend, twenty four teams took a step closer to getting the job done. Nineteen of the twenty four one seeds advanced, with only 2-seeds: College of Greenville, Tombigbee, UT Lubbock, Hollywood, and Bonneville upsetting the top team in their respective pairings. There were several close games as well. Daniel Boone College nearly shocked the nation, when, as a 4-seed they forced a second deciding game with Hollywood and lost in the bottom of the ninth after a solo homerun by Gene Martin put the Stars on top. All in all, six regionals were determined by one run. The Division IV Baseball Chairman called this year's baseball tournament, "the best one since last season."
The teams which won advance to eight super regionals. Each super regional consists of three teams in a double elimination format, with the 2 and 3-seeds playing the first game. Play begins this week. The Super Regional pairings are:
Prescott, AZ: 1. Ascot State, 2. UNC Boone, 3. Cabrillo College
Williamsburg, VA: 1. Peyton Randolph, 2. Anderson Greenwood, 3. College of Greenville
Strasburg, PA: 1. Penn Dutch, 2. Kokomo College, 3. Tombigbee
Burbank, CA: 1. Burbank Tech, 2. IUPUEMC, 3. UT Lubbock
Thomasville, GA: 1. Thomasville Tech, 2. LaJolla S&M, 3. Carlsbad State
Flagstaff, AZ: 1. Flagstaff State, 2. Phoenix, 3. Hollywood
Cape Charles, VA: 1. Cape Charles College, 2. Sporting Hill College, 3. College of Cape Cod
Barrow, AK (Slidell, LA): 1. Fourlane, 2. Joliet State, 3. Bonneville
Fort Worth Regional Mired in Upset and Controversy
from the Fort Worth Comet-Wire
It wouldn't be Division IV baseball if there wasn't at least some controversy heading into the next round of postseason play. As all across the country a handful of teams celebrated advancing to the super regionals, many more ended their seasons disappointed and upset, and perhaps none more so than UT Fort Worth. The Wranglers looked to be well on their way to a third straight super regional appearance when a bad call at first by umpire Richie Coco abruptly halted their plans. There were two outs in the bottom of the ninth and UT Fort Worth was trailing 3-4 with two runners in scoring position. UTFW third baseman Dallas Boulevard was up to bat, and with a 3-1 count, hit a sharp liner between second and short, surely winning the game for the Wranglers as the two base runners came home.
However, as Boulevard was sliding into second base, the throw came into first and he was called out after Coco ruled that the throw had beaten the runner, thus ending the game. Wrangler head coach Auger Guido came flying out of the dugout to contest the ruling on the field. After his ejection, a massive brawl broke out between the two teams which lasted well over two hours and resulted in multiple hospitalizations including players treated for blunt force trauma, gunshot, and stabbing wounds. The fan was hospitalized after being struck by an errant baseball when an assistant coach from Bonneville began shooting balls from a pitching machine at opposing players. It is unclear whether there will be any suspensions or not.
After viewing the replay which clearly showed that Boulevard was not only safe at first, but was actually safe at second too, Coco still maintained that he "called it as he saw it" and that "the right team won". Guido and the Wranglers protested the ruling on the field based on video evidence and on the grounds that according to the Texas DMV, the state in which Coco is from, that he is legally blind. The NCAA Division IV office denied the protest stating that sometimes "baseball is a game of feet... or yards, and not just inches". Bonneville will advance to play Joliet State as the three seed in the opening game of the Slidell super regional.
It wouldn't be Division IV baseball if there wasn't at least some controversy heading into the next round of postseason play. As all across the country a handful of teams celebrated advancing to the super regionals, many more ended their seasons disappointed and upset, and perhaps none more so than UT Fort Worth. The Wranglers looked to be well on their way to a third straight super regional appearance when a bad call at first by umpire Richie Coco abruptly halted their plans. There were two outs in the bottom of the ninth and UT Fort Worth was trailing 3-4 with two runners in scoring position. UTFW third baseman Dallas Boulevard was up to bat, and with a 3-1 count, hit a sharp liner between second and short, surely winning the game for the Wranglers as the two base runners came home.
However, as Boulevard was sliding into second base, the throw came into first and he was called out after Coco ruled that the throw had beaten the runner, thus ending the game. Wrangler head coach Auger Guido came flying out of the dugout to contest the ruling on the field. After his ejection, a massive brawl broke out between the two teams which lasted well over two hours and resulted in multiple hospitalizations including players treated for blunt force trauma, gunshot, and stabbing wounds. The fan was hospitalized after being struck by an errant baseball when an assistant coach from Bonneville began shooting balls from a pitching machine at opposing players. It is unclear whether there will be any suspensions or not.
After viewing the replay which clearly showed that Boulevard was not only safe at first, but was actually safe at second too, Coco still maintained that he "called it as he saw it" and that "the right team won". Guido and the Wranglers protested the ruling on the field based on video evidence and on the grounds that according to the Texas DMV, the state in which Coco is from, that he is legally blind. The NCAA Division IV office denied the protest stating that sometimes "baseball is a game of feet... or yards, and not just inches". Bonneville will advance to play Joliet State as the three seed in the opening game of the Slidell super regional.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
2010 Division IV Baseball Field Set
from the Allied Press
All around the country players and coaches celebrated as their teams were selected to compete in the 2010 NCAA Division IV Baseball Tournament. "I'm just so unbelievably excited to be here, it's really a dream come true." said Buck Iyze, head coach of Columbus State (OH) who's upset win over Detroit Clemency in the Metropolitan Conference Championship gave the school an automatic bid and its first ever appearance in the national baseball postseason tournament.
The NCAA Division IV Baseball Tournament is comprised of a 96-team field with 35 conference tournament champions earning automatic seeds and the rest of the bids coming from teams selected at-large from the over 400-member institutions competing at the level. In addition, 24 schools are chosen to host regionals, each with 4 teams in a double elimination format. The winners of each regional advance to one of 8 super regionals, each with 3 teams in a double elimination format, and the remaining 8 teams from that will be invited to Council Bluffs, IA and the 2010 NCAA Division IV College World Series. The CWS is triple elimination.
The 24 regional host sites and their super regional pairings are: #8 Williamsburg, VA (Peyton Randolph College), Greenwood, SC (Anderson Greenwood), Kissimmee, FL (Kissimmee Tech); #7 Flagstaff, AZ (Flagstaff State), Phoenix, AZ (Phoenix), San Diego, CA (Point Loma College); #6 Slidell, LA (Fourlane), Joliet, IL (Joliet State), Fort Worth, TX (UT Fort Worth); #5 Burbank, CA (Burbank Tech), Bar Harbor, ME (Bar Harbor), East Mount Carmel, IN (IUPUEMC); #4 Strasburg, PA (Penn Dutch), Kokomo, IL (Kokomo College), Cortez, CO (Mesa Verde G&T); #3 Cape Charles, VA (Cape Charles College), Sporting Hill, PA (Sporting Hill College), Hyannis, MA (College of Cape Cod); #2 Thomasville, GA (Thomasville Tech), San Diego, CA (LaJolla S&M), Carlsbad, NM (Carlsbad State); #1 Prescott, AZ (Ascot State), Boone, NC (UNC Boone), and San Diego, CA (Cabrillo College).
For some teams, the selections were expected. "We're meant to be here. We're never not here. A (D-4) baseball tournament without us isn't a tournament and it isn't a tournament if we're not a national seed either." commented Ascot State head coach Rick Tonto. There was a bit of uncertainty as to whether the Navajos would be allowed to compete after scandal fallout last year. It was first reported in 2008 that the Ascot State pitchers mound was in fact located above a 13th century Native American burial mound, and NCAA rulings last year about the matter placed heavy sanctions upon the program, including a 1-year ban on postseason play. When later questioned about their participation in postseason tournaments since, a Division IV spokesperson stated that that punishment had been reversed. Ascot State enters the tournament as the #1 overall seed.
Meanwhile, some teams are just relieved to be a host site. "It's a challenge for us every year. We know'th that if we do not succeed, we will not host a regional, and if we do not host a regional, we likely cannot compete." spoke Emil Krouse head coach of Penn Dutch University who received the #4 overall seed. "It can take'th up to a week for us to travel out of state for some games. If we were to ever be sent to a regional more than a hundred miles away, we likely would not be able to make it in time." Luckily for the Farmers, they are assured home stands for both the regionals and super regionals should they make it that far. When asked about their plans if they make it all the way to the CWS, Coach Krouse replied that "We'll ford that river when we get there." He went on to mention that they had already reserved coach seats on Amtrak and we're making arrangements via post with local farmers in Nebraska and Iowa to secure rental buggies.
"The Road to Council Bluffs starts here." stated Coach Tonto, pointing towards a nearby Route 66 marker.
The tournament begins this week and is expected to continue through the end of May.
All around the country players and coaches celebrated as their teams were selected to compete in the 2010 NCAA Division IV Baseball Tournament. "I'm just so unbelievably excited to be here, it's really a dream come true." said Buck Iyze, head coach of Columbus State (OH) who's upset win over Detroit Clemency in the Metropolitan Conference Championship gave the school an automatic bid and its first ever appearance in the national baseball postseason tournament.
The NCAA Division IV Baseball Tournament is comprised of a 96-team field with 35 conference tournament champions earning automatic seeds and the rest of the bids coming from teams selected at-large from the over 400-member institutions competing at the level. In addition, 24 schools are chosen to host regionals, each with 4 teams in a double elimination format. The winners of each regional advance to one of 8 super regionals, each with 3 teams in a double elimination format, and the remaining 8 teams from that will be invited to Council Bluffs, IA and the 2010 NCAA Division IV College World Series. The CWS is triple elimination.
The 24 regional host sites and their super regional pairings are: #8 Williamsburg, VA (Peyton Randolph College), Greenwood, SC (Anderson Greenwood), Kissimmee, FL (Kissimmee Tech); #7 Flagstaff, AZ (Flagstaff State), Phoenix, AZ (Phoenix), San Diego, CA (Point Loma College); #6 Slidell, LA (Fourlane), Joliet, IL (Joliet State), Fort Worth, TX (UT Fort Worth); #5 Burbank, CA (Burbank Tech), Bar Harbor, ME (Bar Harbor), East Mount Carmel, IN (IUPUEMC); #4 Strasburg, PA (Penn Dutch), Kokomo, IL (Kokomo College), Cortez, CO (Mesa Verde G&T); #3 Cape Charles, VA (Cape Charles College), Sporting Hill, PA (Sporting Hill College), Hyannis, MA (College of Cape Cod); #2 Thomasville, GA (Thomasville Tech), San Diego, CA (LaJolla S&M), Carlsbad, NM (Carlsbad State); #1 Prescott, AZ (Ascot State), Boone, NC (UNC Boone), and San Diego, CA (Cabrillo College).
For some teams, the selections were expected. "We're meant to be here. We're never not here. A (D-4) baseball tournament without us isn't a tournament and it isn't a tournament if we're not a national seed either." commented Ascot State head coach Rick Tonto. There was a bit of uncertainty as to whether the Navajos would be allowed to compete after scandal fallout last year. It was first reported in 2008 that the Ascot State pitchers mound was in fact located above a 13th century Native American burial mound, and NCAA rulings last year about the matter placed heavy sanctions upon the program, including a 1-year ban on postseason play. When later questioned about their participation in postseason tournaments since, a Division IV spokesperson stated that that punishment had been reversed. Ascot State enters the tournament as the #1 overall seed.
Meanwhile, some teams are just relieved to be a host site. "It's a challenge for us every year. We know'th that if we do not succeed, we will not host a regional, and if we do not host a regional, we likely cannot compete." spoke Emil Krouse head coach of Penn Dutch University who received the #4 overall seed. "It can take'th up to a week for us to travel out of state for some games. If we were to ever be sent to a regional more than a hundred miles away, we likely would not be able to make it in time." Luckily for the Farmers, they are assured home stands for both the regionals and super regionals should they make it that far. When asked about their plans if they make it all the way to the CWS, Coach Krouse replied that "We'll ford that river when we get there." He went on to mention that they had already reserved coach seats on Amtrak and we're making arrangements via post with local farmers in Nebraska and Iowa to secure rental buggies.
"The Road to Council Bluffs starts here." stated Coach Tonto, pointing towards a nearby Route 66 marker.
The tournament begins this week and is expected to continue through the end of May.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Eight Teams on the Street to Council Bluffs
from the Allied Press
Around the country, eight teams celebrated Sunday afternoon after it was finalized that they would indeed be headed to Council Bluffs, IA and the 2009 NCAA Division IV College World Series. The championship series, which has been in progress for the past two weeks, saw 96 teams compete at 24 regional host sites, each with the same goal to reach the Division IV College World Series. This past weekend, the remaining 24 teams fought head to head in eight super regionals to claim that right.
In Thomasville GA, two teams celebrated their return to Council Bluffs, as Thomasville Tech and Thomas College defeated IUPUEMC and Tombigbee respectively, to advance. For the Polecats of TTU, this marks the six straight year they have made the trip, which has included four national championships in , '04, '05, '06, and '07. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to make a trip back again this year. I know last year a lot of our boys were disappointed leaving without the (championship) trophy, but this year we seek to rectify that." said TTU head coach Billy Bo Thurnton. Thomas College, on the other hand, makes their fourth straight CWS appearance in hopes to claim the school's first ever national championship.
In the Midwest, three more teams celebrated a trip to Iowa. The College of Charlestown Wildcats claimed the right after taking one from the cinderella team of the season, College of the Grand Canyon 4-0. In Wichita KS, Wichita A&M was ecstatic after winning the super regional final over Ada College 8-5. "We're headed back to Council Bluffs, and we're gonna win it again!" said a very excited coach Sean Stevenson. The Linemen won their only championship back in 1997. Meanwhile, players from Backwoods College partied in Gallup, NM after upsetting the host seed Gallup State in back to back games 15-14 in 10 innings and 8-6, to punch their ticket to the CWS.
Elsewhere, Point Loma College, Arizona A&M, and Kissimmee Tech each celebrated super regional victories to advance. Combined, this year's highly experienced field of eight CWS teams combine for five national championships and twenty CWS appearances since 1997. Breaking down the teams geographically, there are 3 teams from the South, 3 from the Midwest, and 2 from the West. The only two teams from the same conference are Thomaville Tech and Thomas College which finished 1 and 2 in the Peach Tree Conference and were seeded 1st and 6th in the NCAA tournament overall.
The NCAA Division IV CWS itself is a triple elimination tournament, with opening round games being played Monday. Here's a list of the first round matchups and seedings:
#1 Thomasville Tech (60-10) vs. #8 Wichita A&M (56-13)
#4 Point Loma College (54-16) vs. #5 College of Charlestown (55-12)
#2 Backwoods College (60-8) vs. #7 Kissimmee Tech (62-9)
#3 Arizona A&M (51-18) vs. #6 Thomas College (59-10)
Around the country, eight teams celebrated Sunday afternoon after it was finalized that they would indeed be headed to Council Bluffs, IA and the 2009 NCAA Division IV College World Series. The championship series, which has been in progress for the past two weeks, saw 96 teams compete at 24 regional host sites, each with the same goal to reach the Division IV College World Series. This past weekend, the remaining 24 teams fought head to head in eight super regionals to claim that right.
In Thomasville GA, two teams celebrated their return to Council Bluffs, as Thomasville Tech and Thomas College defeated IUPUEMC and Tombigbee respectively, to advance. For the Polecats of TTU, this marks the six straight year they have made the trip, which has included four national championships in , '04, '05, '06, and '07. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to make a trip back again this year. I know last year a lot of our boys were disappointed leaving without the (championship) trophy, but this year we seek to rectify that." said TTU head coach Billy Bo Thurnton. Thomas College, on the other hand, makes their fourth straight CWS appearance in hopes to claim the school's first ever national championship.
In the Midwest, three more teams celebrated a trip to Iowa. The College of Charlestown Wildcats claimed the right after taking one from the cinderella team of the season, College of the Grand Canyon 4-0. In Wichita KS, Wichita A&M was ecstatic after winning the super regional final over Ada College 8-5. "We're headed back to Council Bluffs, and we're gonna win it again!" said a very excited coach Sean Stevenson. The Linemen won their only championship back in 1997. Meanwhile, players from Backwoods College partied in Gallup, NM after upsetting the host seed Gallup State in back to back games 15-14 in 10 innings and 8-6, to punch their ticket to the CWS.
Elsewhere, Point Loma College, Arizona A&M, and Kissimmee Tech each celebrated super regional victories to advance. Combined, this year's highly experienced field of eight CWS teams combine for five national championships and twenty CWS appearances since 1997. Breaking down the teams geographically, there are 3 teams from the South, 3 from the Midwest, and 2 from the West. The only two teams from the same conference are Thomaville Tech and Thomas College which finished 1 and 2 in the Peach Tree Conference and were seeded 1st and 6th in the NCAA tournament overall.
The NCAA Division IV CWS itself is a triple elimination tournament, with opening round games being played Monday. Here's a list of the first round matchups and seedings:
#1 Thomasville Tech (60-10) vs. #8 Wichita A&M (56-13)
#4 Point Loma College (54-16) vs. #5 College of Charlestown (55-12)
#2 Backwoods College (60-8) vs. #7 Kissimmee Tech (62-9)
#3 Arizona A&M (51-18) vs. #6 Thomas College (59-10)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
NCAA Issues Verdict In Ascot State Case
from the Allied Press
Nearly 11 months after NCAA officials discovered that the Ascot State baseball team had been playing atop what is now known to be a 13th Century Native American burial mound, the committee on infractions finally issued their findings. According to the report, ASU officials were unaware of the situation until it was discovered by an official sent by the NCAA Division 4 headquarters to investigate accusations that the pitcher's mound was above regulation height. Immediately following the uncovering of the burial site, the Navajos were ordered to make other accommodations for all remaining home games, resulting in the completion of the Prescott Regional, part of the 2008 Division 4 baseball tournament, on a partially paved practice field.
Despite being unaware of the burial mound situation, the NCAA report still sites "major infractions" concerning the illegal height of the pitcher's mound. "Ascot State officials should have been aware that the pitcher's mound was above regulation, and thus have corrected the problem. Instead, they decided to ignore the fact and subsequently continued to participate on a field that provided an unequal opportunity to compete." The report goes on to mention that, "...the issue of the uncovered burial mound is only of secondary concern."
In addition to the findings, the report also recommended a series of aggressive penalties for the infractions. The most notable of these is the potential loss of the 2004 and 2006 national championships which Ascot State currently shares with Cabrillo College and Thomasville Tech, respectively. Other possible penalties include scholarship reductions (from 1 to 0.5) and one year probation. Under probation, Ascot State would not be able to compete in the postseason baseball tournament (effective immediately) but would still be eligible to be selected for a co-national championship. There is also the potential that the case could be used to reopen the mascot issue, in which case the NCAA may mandate a change from the current Navajos nickname. Both the Neckerchiefs and the 'Jos are current pseudonyms for the school's athletic program.
Regardless of the final decision on reprimands, the Navajos will no longer be playing their home games on the former Yavapai Field. Instead, the school has erected semi-permanent stands on the paved practice field, which will be officially named 'Yavapai Memorial Field Lot' this Friday in a naming ceremony. The school says that the former field will still be used as the practice field, just with pitchers being required to participate in a ceremonial dance before ascending the mound.
Nearly 11 months after NCAA officials discovered that the Ascot State baseball team had been playing atop what is now known to be a 13th Century Native American burial mound, the committee on infractions finally issued their findings. According to the report, ASU officials were unaware of the situation until it was discovered by an official sent by the NCAA Division 4 headquarters to investigate accusations that the pitcher's mound was above regulation height. Immediately following the uncovering of the burial site, the Navajos were ordered to make other accommodations for all remaining home games, resulting in the completion of the Prescott Regional, part of the 2008 Division 4 baseball tournament, on a partially paved practice field.
Despite being unaware of the burial mound situation, the NCAA report still sites "major infractions" concerning the illegal height of the pitcher's mound. "Ascot State officials should have been aware that the pitcher's mound was above regulation, and thus have corrected the problem. Instead, they decided to ignore the fact and subsequently continued to participate on a field that provided an unequal opportunity to compete." The report goes on to mention that, "...the issue of the uncovered burial mound is only of secondary concern."
In addition to the findings, the report also recommended a series of aggressive penalties for the infractions. The most notable of these is the potential loss of the 2004 and 2006 national championships which Ascot State currently shares with Cabrillo College and Thomasville Tech, respectively. Other possible penalties include scholarship reductions (from 1 to 0.5) and one year probation. Under probation, Ascot State would not be able to compete in the postseason baseball tournament (effective immediately) but would still be eligible to be selected for a co-national championship. There is also the potential that the case could be used to reopen the mascot issue, in which case the NCAA may mandate a change from the current Navajos nickname. Both the Neckerchiefs and the 'Jos are current pseudonyms for the school's athletic program.
Regardless of the final decision on reprimands, the Navajos will no longer be playing their home games on the former Yavapai Field. Instead, the school has erected semi-permanent stands on the paved practice field, which will be officially named 'Yavapai Memorial Field Lot' this Friday in a naming ceremony. The school says that the former field will still be used as the practice field, just with pitchers being required to participate in a ceremonial dance before ascending the mound.
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