Third Place Washout
Moline Has To Settle For Tie With Elk Grove ...
| Northern Illinois Sports Beat http://www.northernillinoissportsbeat.com |
By Bill Lidinsky
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Contributor
EAST PEORIA – In the 35-year history of the IHSA Girls Softball series there has been
only one time where officials have declared a tie in the state final round.
You can now make that two times.
After nearly three hours of rain delay on Saturday, Moline’s Class 4A third place
showdown with Elk Grove Village was declared a tie by IHSA Assistant Executive Director
Matt Troha at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Both teams will be listed as finishing
third in 4A for 2010.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. but was moved up to 2:30 p.m.,
as inclement weather seemed imminent on radar. But the heavy rains arrived quicker than
expected right as the third place contest was ready to get under way. From there the
down pours never really let up fully until around 5 p.m. That's when Troha made the tough
call as the alternate field was flooded and deemed unplayable, while the main venue,
Mizuno Field, was tarped and reserved for the 4A title game between Orland Park
Sandburg and Palatine Fremd.
“Our best hope was to play on our alternate field. But after about three hours of rain, it’s
not in good shape and it’s kind of dangerous. We started the 1A third place game last
weekend on that field in probably better conditions and we had to call that one after five
innings,” Troha said. “There was also an option of playing the game after the
championship contest on Mizuno Field. We considered that, but there were some
unknown factors like further bad weather, an extended multi-inning game like we’ve had in
the past, and a few other considerations that really made us make a tough call. I didn’t
want to keep both teams around all night and then not be able to play later or tomorrow.”
The IHSA prohibits regular season or post-season play on Sundays and apparently there
was no discussion as to bringing both clubs back during the week to determine a true
third place winner.
“No, the option of coming back next week to play was never discussed. We would have
done whatever it took to play another game. I think Elk Grove really wanted to go home.
But it’s hard when you’re hanging around all day and not getting to play so I can
understand that as well. But I honestly believe our girls would have sat there all night if
they knew they were going to play another game,” said Moline coach Mark Gerlach. “It’s
just too bad because we have played really good ball the last couple of weeks. The last
game our two seniors (Lillie Stone and Olivia Aten) will remember is the semifinal game
against Sandburg where we didn’t play very well and have the chance to show how good
we’ve been. That’s kind of a downer not to be able to go out there one last time together
and go out a winner on the field.”
This was the only time in IHSA softball history that a game wasn’t played at all and
resulted in a tie. The only other declared tie was back in the two-class system of 2001
when the Class AA third place contest between Glenbard North and Belleville West was
called a 0-0 draw after ten innings of play due to the lateness of hour with the
championship contest still needing to be contested. Both clubs were awarded third place
hardware just like this season.
In baseball there have been more ties declared, most notably for one area school. Rock
Island, back in 1999, settled for a third place draw due to a weather related occurrence.
Could the IHSA develop some provision or process by which weather related ties could be
averted?
“I would certainly like to see that myself,” Gerlach said. “I can’t answer for the IHSA, but I
would like to think that could be something that could be discussed. Playing that third
place game is important. Obviously it’s not as important as the championship game. But
you work all year and you get to state to play two games. When you don’t, like we
experienced, it’s disappointing. Hopefully the IHSA could give this situation a look for a
change in the future.”
The unfortunate situation doesn’t diminish a fabulous season for the Maroons (28-9). The
third place tie gave Moline’s its second third place finish to go along with one fourth, four
seconds, and five championship titles dating back to 1986. The trophy and medals were
presented to the Maroons Sunday night during a ceremony at Wharton Field House.
With only two graduating, Moline’s chances for a 13th state final finish look strong for the
future. Hopefully that can come minus any ties.
“I would certainly hope so. I’m really looking forward to the next couple of years. We’ve got
a lot of talent coming back and a lot of talent in the lower levels,” Gerlach said. “I’m really
excited and I think we should be pretty darn good the next few years. It just seems like
Moline girls just really love to play softball.”
Bill Lidinsky is a Northern Illinois Sports Beat contributor. He can be reached in care of
NISB at Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our
Message Boards!
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Contributor
EAST PEORIA – In the 35-year history of the IHSA Girls Softball series there has been
only one time where officials have declared a tie in the state final round.
You can now make that two times.
After nearly three hours of rain delay on Saturday, Moline’s Class 4A third place
showdown with Elk Grove Village was declared a tie by IHSA Assistant Executive Director
Matt Troha at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Both teams will be listed as finishing
third in 4A for 2010.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. but was moved up to 2:30 p.m.,
as inclement weather seemed imminent on radar. But the heavy rains arrived quicker than
expected right as the third place contest was ready to get under way. From there the
down pours never really let up fully until around 5 p.m. That's when Troha made the tough
call as the alternate field was flooded and deemed unplayable, while the main venue,
Mizuno Field, was tarped and reserved for the 4A title game between Orland Park
Sandburg and Palatine Fremd.
“Our best hope was to play on our alternate field. But after about three hours of rain, it’s
not in good shape and it’s kind of dangerous. We started the 1A third place game last
weekend on that field in probably better conditions and we had to call that one after five
innings,” Troha said. “There was also an option of playing the game after the
championship contest on Mizuno Field. We considered that, but there were some
unknown factors like further bad weather, an extended multi-inning game like we’ve had in
the past, and a few other considerations that really made us make a tough call. I didn’t
want to keep both teams around all night and then not be able to play later or tomorrow.”
The IHSA prohibits regular season or post-season play on Sundays and apparently there
was no discussion as to bringing both clubs back during the week to determine a true
third place winner.
“No, the option of coming back next week to play was never discussed. We would have
done whatever it took to play another game. I think Elk Grove really wanted to go home.
But it’s hard when you’re hanging around all day and not getting to play so I can
understand that as well. But I honestly believe our girls would have sat there all night if
they knew they were going to play another game,” said Moline coach Mark Gerlach. “It’s
just too bad because we have played really good ball the last couple of weeks. The last
game our two seniors (Lillie Stone and Olivia Aten) will remember is the semifinal game
against Sandburg where we didn’t play very well and have the chance to show how good
we’ve been. That’s kind of a downer not to be able to go out there one last time together
and go out a winner on the field.”
This was the only time in IHSA softball history that a game wasn’t played at all and
resulted in a tie. The only other declared tie was back in the two-class system of 2001
when the Class AA third place contest between Glenbard North and Belleville West was
called a 0-0 draw after ten innings of play due to the lateness of hour with the
championship contest still needing to be contested. Both clubs were awarded third place
hardware just like this season.
In baseball there have been more ties declared, most notably for one area school. Rock
Island, back in 1999, settled for a third place draw due to a weather related occurrence.
Could the IHSA develop some provision or process by which weather related ties could be
averted?
“I would certainly like to see that myself,” Gerlach said. “I can’t answer for the IHSA, but I
would like to think that could be something that could be discussed. Playing that third
place game is important. Obviously it’s not as important as the championship game. But
you work all year and you get to state to play two games. When you don’t, like we
experienced, it’s disappointing. Hopefully the IHSA could give this situation a look for a
change in the future.”
The unfortunate situation doesn’t diminish a fabulous season for the Maroons (28-9). The
third place tie gave Moline’s its second third place finish to go along with one fourth, four
seconds, and five championship titles dating back to 1986. The trophy and medals were
presented to the Maroons Sunday night during a ceremony at Wharton Field House.
With only two graduating, Moline’s chances for a 13th state final finish look strong for the
future. Hopefully that can come minus any ties.
“I would certainly hope so. I’m really looking forward to the next couple of years. We’ve got
a lot of talent coming back and a lot of talent in the lower levels,” Gerlach said. “I’m really
excited and I think we should be pretty darn good the next few years. It just seems like
Moline girls just really love to play softball.”
Bill Lidinsky is a Northern Illinois Sports Beat contributor. He can be reached in care of
NISB at Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our
Message Boards!
Photo by Bill Lidinsky
The softball field at EastSide Center is tarped due to inclement weather.
The Class 4A third place game between Moline and Elk Grove Village
was cancelled with both teams earning third place trophies.
The softball field at EastSide Center is tarped due to inclement weather.
The Class 4A third place game between Moline and Elk Grove Village
was cancelled with both teams earning third place trophies.
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