59 - West Lafayette, Garaway Wait Final Decision (5-8-59)

PHOTO: Garaway Pirates (Champs or Runner-Ups) may get a second chance at winning the District Baseball Tournament because of a disputed play in yesterday's contest with West Lafayette. The team, which also won the County Championship is pictured above. FRONT ROW - Butch Yakley, Tim Dehnder and Bud Yakley. SECTON ROW - Koran Zehnder, Ben Spear, Gary Snyder, Bob Tidrick, Ron Porter and Manager George Bitikofer. BACK ROW - Bob Yost (left), Dan Bleininger, Charley Stingel, Tom Andrews, Bob Raber and Coach Bill Ray.

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SUGARCREEK - West Lafayette and Garaway baseball coaches today were awaiting the final word from Ohio High School Commissioner W. J. McConnell of whether their disputed Class "A" District Championship playoff battle yesterday will stand as is - or be continued. If it remains as the game was thought to have finished, West Lafayette's Generals will gain next week's Regional Tournament at North Canton. If it is ruled that it is to be continued, play will be resumed in the last half of the seventh inning with the score deadlocked 4-4.

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The disputed call came in the top of the seventh inning yesterday with Garaway trailing 4-3. The Pirates had runners on second and third with one out when Dan Bleininger, Garaway first-baseman, smashed a low, line drive to the West Lafayette shortstop. It appeared that he had trapped the baseball, but umpire Ed Smith of Strasburg ruled the catch as legal. Both Pirate runners were off at the crack of the bat with Bob Raber scoring and Bud Yakley moving to third. When an attempt was made to nail Yakley at third, the ball went into the outfield and Yakley proceded home with the run that would have put Garaway into a 5-4 lead. However, both runners had failed to tag up after the legal catch and a hasty throw was made to second where Yakley was ruled the final out. The game ended with West Lafayette ahead 4-3 and the Generals left for home supposedly District Champion.

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Coaches Jim Stull and Bill Ray of Garaway, following the game, questioned umpires on whether Rabers's scoring should be allowed since he reached home with the tying run before the third out was made at second base. Had the force out been made at third, there would have been no dispute. Umpires Smith and Frank Burrier of Baltic agreed - and today's discussion with McConnell was in order. County Supt. W.E. Laws said this morning that, in all probability, the game would be resumed at the point of the dispute. The continuation date would be set during this morning's discussion.

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Friday, May 8, 1959

The Daily Reporter

Dover, Ohio