Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Warhawks to forfeit 10 games

By PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 15, 2001

The Florida High School Activities Association informed Seminole on Wednesday that it has forfeited the first 10 games of the season -- all wins -- for using an ineligible player, shortstop Bryan Bass.

Bass, who transferred to Seminole from Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy in January and is rated the No. 6 high school senior prospect in the nation by Baseball America, has been ruled ineligible because he lived with a host family at Westminster but is living with his mother in the Seminole school zone.

"We have been found in violation of the continuity rule, which states an athlete must live with the same person for (the school year)," Seminole principal Richard Duncan said. "Unbeknownst to us, he was not living with his mother (at Westminster).

"Knowing he was a high visibility person coming in, we tried to cover all of our bases up front. We prepared a lot of information and shared it with the (FHSAA), and based on that he was eligible. ... But other information came forth."

Seminole, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America, drops to 1-10. The Warhawks beat St. Petersburg 8-4 on Tuesday with Bass out of the lineup because of the pending ruling.

Bass is still enrolled at Seminole, Duncan said. Bass and his mother met Wednesday with Duncan, and the school intends to appeal on Bass' behalf at the FHSAA meeting April 5 in Bartow. If the appeal is upheld, Bass would regain his eligibility immediately.

Bass, who played for Fayette County (Ala.) his junior year, was batting .414 (12-for-29) with a double, triple and home run. Bass, also a wide receiver, has signed to play football at Alabama.

Among Seminole's 10 forfeits are three Pinellas County Athletic Conference games, which almost certainly will prevent the Warhawks from defending their conference title. Seminole is eligible for the district and state playoffs.

"This will not stand in the way of their quest for a state championship," Duncan said.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright