By BRANDON PETERSEN
Staff reporter of the
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
It may already be too late.
Due to an illness of one of the Sac-Joaquin Section appeals committee members, the section decided to postpone its decision regarding the East Union softball team Monday.
The committee is set to reconvene today and decide whether or not East Union was in the wrong when it used a player that was ejected in an April 20 contest versus Sonora against Oakdale April 22.
But because the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs begin this afternoon at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton, East Union and Sierras’ seasons may already be over.
Based on Oakdale’s last-minute forfeiture request, Ceres and Oakdale are both prepared for travel to Stockton this afternoon.
Even if the committee rules in favor of East Union, there may not be time for a coin flip to decide which two of the four programs tied atop the Valley Oak League standings would move on.
If that’s the case, then East Union and Sierra could share the VOL title with Oakdale and Ceres, but the Mustangs and Bulldogs would move on to the postseason as planned, while the Lancers and Timberwolves stay home.
Until the Section has its final word, however, the situation remains tenuous at best.
East Union, Sierra, Oakdale and Ceres all finished the VOL season at 11-3.
While EU split with all three opponents, Sierra swept Oakdale and the Bulldogs swept the Timberwolves.
Because Oakdale’s forfeiture request vaulted the Mustangs into first overall, it also placed Ceres and Sierra in a second place tie with identical records, meaning Ceres moves to the playoffs based on its sweep of the T’Wolves.
Sierra, which is comprised of 10 senior players, is in search of the first VOL championship in program history.
East Union has appeared in the section finals in each of the past two seasons.
To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail bpetersen@mantecabulletin.com, or call (209) 249-3543.
Staff reporter of the
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
It may already be too late.
Due to an illness of one of the Sac-Joaquin Section appeals committee members, the section decided to postpone its decision regarding the East Union softball team Monday.
The committee is set to reconvene today and decide whether or not East Union was in the wrong when it used a player that was ejected in an April 20 contest versus Sonora against Oakdale April 22.
But because the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs begin this afternoon at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton, East Union and Sierras’ seasons may already be over.
Based on Oakdale’s last-minute forfeiture request, Ceres and Oakdale are both prepared for travel to Stockton this afternoon.
Even if the committee rules in favor of East Union, there may not be time for a coin flip to decide which two of the four programs tied atop the Valley Oak League standings would move on.
If that’s the case, then East Union and Sierra could share the VOL title with Oakdale and Ceres, but the Mustangs and Bulldogs would move on to the postseason as planned, while the Lancers and Timberwolves stay home.
Until the Section has its final word, however, the situation remains tenuous at best.
East Union, Sierra, Oakdale and Ceres all finished the VOL season at 11-3.
While EU split with all three opponents, Sierra swept Oakdale and the Bulldogs swept the Timberwolves.
Because Oakdale’s forfeiture request vaulted the Mustangs into first overall, it also placed Ceres and Sierra in a second place tie with identical records, meaning Ceres moves to the playoffs based on its sweep of the T’Wolves.
Sierra, which is comprised of 10 senior players, is in search of the first VOL championship in program history.
East Union has appeared in the section finals in each of the past two seasons.
To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail bpetersen@mantecabulletin.com, or call (209) 249-3543.
