Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
June 28, 2003
Section: Sports
Edition: Final
Page: C6
Memo:HIGH SCHOOLS
DUNBAR’S BANQUET PUSHED BACK DUE TO ‘DEAD PERIOD’ RULE
Mike Fields, Herald-Leader Staff Writer
Paul Dunbar hoped to put the finishing touches on its state baseball title with a team banquet next week.
But those plans were put on hold when Coach Mickey Marshall found out that such a get-together would be a violation of Kentucky High School Athletic Association rules governing the “summer dead period.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” Marshall said. “Here we were ready to celebrate our state championship and we’re told we couldn’t do it. It was a big letdown for all of us.”
The KHSAA specifies June 25 through July 9 as a “dead period” when students are not allowed to receive training or instruction from school personnel. Also, school funds, including money from booster clubs, may not be used in support of athletics during that time.
“Unfortunately, (a banquet) would involve expenditure of money,” said Julian Tackett of the KHSAA. “Our hands are tied as that is expressly prohibited.
“We even went to the board of control two or three years ago, asking for some leeway, and were told to remain firm with no dead period exceptions.”
Lexington Catholic ran into the same problem after it won the 1999 state title. Knights Coach Rodney Martin said the “silly rule” forced him to push his team banquet back a couple weeks.
Dunbar has rescheduled its celebration for July 14.
Marshall said he will draft a proposal to the KHSAA asking that the rule be changed to allow the state baseball champs to hold their banquet during the dead period.
“Maybe we can keep this from happening to some other team down the road,” he said.
National notice
Dunbar’s 41-4 record and state title earned it a spot in USA Today’s Super 25 this week. The Bulldogs were rated No. 25 in the national ratings, and their state-record 41 wins were more than all but two teams — No. 12 Knoxville (Tenn.) Farragut (48-1) and No. 5 St. Paul Episcopal of Mobile, Ala. (41-4).
Dunbar was rated 21st in the nation in Student Sports’ Fab 50.
A hit at the ballpark
Doubling the number of teams in the state baseball tournament this year almost doubled the number of fans it drew to Applebee’s Park.
Last year’s two-day final four had a total attendance of just over 6,100. Last week’s eight-team, four-day, Big Blue Nation/KHSAA State Tournament drew crowds totaling more than 11,100.
Alan Stein, CEO of the Lexington Legends, has said he would like to see Applebee’s Park become the permanent home of the state tournament. And he reiterated last week that he would like to see the event expanded even more.
“I’d love to see the KHSAA make it so that all 16 region winners come to Lexington for the state tournament,” said Stein, who has visions of holding the junior and senior high school All-Star games, and a skills competition, the same week.
LCA star signs
Josh Kheradmand, who led Lexington Christian Academy to a runner-up finish in the 11th Region Baseball Tournament, has signed with Southern Union State, a junior college in Wadley, Ala.
Kheradmand, a shortstop and first-team All-City selection, hit .478 with 46 runs and 18 RBI this season.