Pasco: Extra game in Dunedin tourney is likely to cost Pasco baseball

Extra game in Dunedin tourney is likely to cost Pasco baseball

By KEVIN KELLY and JAMAL THALJI

DADE CITY -- It was Good Friday, so Pasco baseball coach Ricky Giles did a good deed.

It could end up costing him a minimum fine of $250 from the Florida High School Activities Association, and could cost the Pirates some games from next season's schedule.

Pasco played its 29th game of the season in the Dunedin Easter Tournament on April 21. That 7-1 win over Western for third place was a violation of the FHSAA's 28-game limit.

Hernando's baseball team also faces similar sanctions for playing its 29th game at the same tourney.

Giles said he felt bad for Western, which had driven four hours from Broward County but had only played in two tournament games.

Knowing his team was exhausted, and that it would push his own ballclub over the state-mandated limit with one regular season game left on the schedule, Giles played the 29th game anyway.

"I did it for the kids," Giles said. "If I had driven to Fort Lauderdale to play three games and only played two, well, that would have been a waste of time for the kids.

"I broke the rules and I have to pay, I know that. I respect the state. But I did it for the kids."

Giles reported the violation to athletic director Willie Broner, who in turn reported it to the FHSAA. But the FHSAA had already been tipped off to the Pasco and Hernando violations, and is investigating.

"The associate commissioner (Ron Allen) determines whether (the violation) was intentional and if it could have been avoided in some other way," said Jack Watford, the FHSAA's director of communications. "If it was a complete lack of responsibility by the coach or on the part of the school, that could increase the penalty."

Watford said both violations most likely will be resolved by June 30.

"This is not a situation where anybody's eligibility is in jeopardy," he said. "It's not a high priority item."

Western coach Brian Norris praised Giles for playing that extra Friday game. Norris didn't know that Pasco would risk sanctions by playing that extra game, but he said he would call Giles to thank him for doing so.

"That gentleman did me a huge favor," Norris said. "We drove down and only played two games, and he went out of his way to make sure that tournament lived up to its billing. Rules are rules, and I understand the whole situation, I know you can't play more than 28 games, but under those circumstances, he did us a huge favor.

"I have the most respect for him. He's a man of his word and he did what he said he'd do."

Hernando and Pasco gained the extra games after two teams pulled out of the Dunedin tournament. Because the tournament was rebracketed to accommodate 16 teams, both got a fourth game.

"I knew they rebracketed it wrong," Giles said. "I knew we would end up playing more games than we were supposed to. But we signed the contract, and we got a few extra wins that we didn't expect. Next time, though, I'm not going to help anyone out. Not if they're going to fine me for it."

Last year, Central High incurred a $250 fine for playing a 29th game because it won more games in the Dunedin tourney than coach Gary Buel expected. The Bears also were limited to 27 regular-season games this season.

-- Staff writer Brant James contributed to this report.