FHSAA rejects proposal on games

The Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors voted against a policy change Tuesday that would have allowed baseball and softball postseason games halted by bad weather to be played to completion at a later date.

Robbie Lindeman, FHSAA director of athletics, stated in an email to baseball advisory committee members that the gameending procedures item will return to the group for further consideration and may be voted on again at a later date.

The six-member committee and athletic directors advisory committee both have voted to change the rule.

They favor requiring the completion of all seven innings of a playoff game before a winner advances to the next round.

In 2015, St. Thomas Aquinas was awarded a 4-2 home victory over Nova in a Class 7A regional semifinal despite trailing when the game was called because of a downpour. In that contest, the then-nationally ranked Raiders held a 4-2 lead after six innings, but the Titans scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead.

After Nova rallied, the game was delayed for roughly 30 minutes before officials ruled the field was unplayable and the contest could not be completed. Since FHSAA rules stipulate a game can go final after 4 2⁄3 innings if the home team leads, the score reverted to what it had been in the last completed inning, which had St. Thomas up 4-2.

Following the game on May 5, 2015, Nova filed an emergency injunction in Broward circuit court to resume the contest, but the request was denied.