By Marla Jones, Sports Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

PISGAH, Ala.—The Plainview Bears faced the Pisgah Eagles Friday night for the second round of the Class 3A baseball playoffs.

In the first game, Plainview led 3-1 for six innings.  Senior, Ben Williamson pitched the entire six innings and his throwing arm started to wear out.  Coach Phillip Johnson decided to put in Colton Bevel in for the last inning. The Pisgah Eagles rallied with a two-run single by Jay Shirey and won the game 4-3.

Colton Bevel was slated to pitch the second game of the series against Pisgah.   Alabama High School Sports Association (AHSSA) states that a pitcher can throw up to 10 innings if he starts the game but that is not necessary the case if it is a double header game. Coach Johnson wanted to make sure of this ruling and called over the Pisgah Head Coach, Stormy Stevens and the home plate umpire for clarification.  The Coaches and umpires agreed that because Bevel did not receive any outs in the one inning that he pitched, he was eligible to pitch the second game.

After a two hour rain delay, Game 2 started at 8:30 p.m.  The Bears won the game 2-1. Senior, John Martin went 2-4 with one RBI.  Junior, James Brown was 1-3 with one RBI.  Bevel threw 71 pitches and struck out 7.

The Bears were celebrating and making plans for the Championship game on Saturday when the unthinkable happened. Coach Phillip Johnson was approached and was questioned about the eligibility of Bevel.  The interpretation of the rule seemed to be incorrect.  What actually was deemed an inning? Was it the first legal pitch that was thrown or was it if any outs were recorded?

According to the AHSSA, it is when the first legal pitch is thrown out.  Technically, when Bevel stepped on the mound in the seventh inning he became ineligible and the Bears had to forfeit the game.

“It is a heartbreaking loss for the Seniors,” said Plainview Head Coach Phillip Johnson. “I hate that they had to lose like this.  At the end of the day, I take full responsibility.”