Johns Creek’s baseball team – which thought it had won a playoff game Wednesday on a bases-loaded walk, only to have the winning run nullified by a rare call – lost an appeal Friday to have the outcome overturned. The Fulton County school is now appealing to the GHSA board of trustees and hopes to get a hearing Monday.
Lee County, playing at home, swept the thee-game Class AAAAAA baseball semifinal series, winning 7-5 and 5-3.
In Game 2, with the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh and final regulation inning, Johns Creek received a bases-loaded walk. Lee County coach Brandon Brock contended to umpires that Johns Creek’s runner on second base never touched third base to complete the play. Umpires agreed and disallowed the run, and the score remained 3-3.
National federation rules do require that base-runners touch all bases that are awarded, including third and not just home and first.
Lee County won the after scoring two runs in the top of the eighth on Tyler Simon’s two-run double.
GHSA executive director Gary Phillips ruled that the game must stand. Lee County was granted an appeal of Phillips' decision by GHSA counsel Alan Connell. The appeal was heard Friday morning at the GHSA's offices in Thomaston. The panel voted 3-1 against Johns Creek's appeal.
The winner of the series will face Pope in the Class AAAAAA championship next week.