Kevin Price: Local coaches less than thrilled with decision to play baseball finals at neutral site
The Georgia High School Association voted earlier this week to move the state championship series for baseball to neutral sites starting in 2017.
Baseball would join football (Georgia Dome) and other sports that have their state champion determined on a neutral field.
Baseball would still use a best-of-three series in the finals.
"The way I would describe it, we are a victim of our success," GHSA executive director Gary Phillips told the (Macon) Telegraph. "Most high school baseball venues cannot handle the crowds that come. They don't have the parking, they don't have the restroom facilities, they don't have the concession facilities, they don't have the seating.
"By going to these neutral sites and using the college and sporting facilities like the Rome Braves and the Gwinnett Braves, places that we've had discussions with, we're going to be in a better venue."
Hopefully, from a spectator's standpoint, let's hope they put all of the finals in the same city as the Alabama High School Athletic Association does. It would be a shame to try and play the eight series spread out all over the state.
The AHSAA holds all of its baseball finals in Montgomery with games split between Paterson Field and Riverwalk Stadium. With the games scheduled over a week in Montgomery, fans can watch multiple finals.
The same could happen in Columbus with Ragsdale Field and Golden Park. Multiple series could be played over the course of just a few days.
As you would imagine, some local coaches such as Hardaway's Chris Gilstrap, Jordan's Tony Dimitri and Shaw's Pat McGregor were against the idea.
"First of all, I voted for it to stay the same where the higher seed hosts. I voted this way because I think playing at home in the playoffs brings certain advantages," Hardaway coach Chris Gilstrap said. "If you've made it to the state finals and you've earned home-field advantage, you deserve that. There are also financial benefits. I'm not sure how the gates would work at a neutral site, but I'm guessing the GHSA will be taking the majority of the profits. Having a playoff series at home generates tons of concessions too. You'd be missing out on that money."
Gilstrap also worries about whether fans would be able to travel.
"Traveling to a neutral site may influence fan support," he said. "Not all schools have parents and fans that can take off work or miss school to travel for these series. If I'm hosting, they may can slide out of work and make it. Students play a big part in the home-field advantage too."
Gilstrap played in two state championship series as a player at Hardaway. In 1996, the Hawks played Columbus at Columbus State's Ragsdale Field. The following year, they played at Greenbrier. Two Columbus teams also played each other in 2001 and 2005 when Columbus and Shaw played each other at neutral sites in town.
"I enjoyed the environment, even not being at home," Gilstrap said. "In 1996, we played Columbus High. If that were to happen again, would we have to travel to Atlanta or somewhere to play each other? I personally don't like the idea. I'm guessing this is a money-driven idea and decision."
Gilstrap said he hopes Columbus gets a chance to be a host.
"I do think Columbus is a good host sight," Gilstrap said. "It's somewhat centrally located and has great baseball facilities. Ragsdale Field is top notch and Golden Park is in the best shape I've seen it. Those two facilities make Columbus a no-brainer to me."
Dimitri said he also voted against the idea of neutral sites for the state final.
"But if we made the state championship game, we would have played it at Golden Park or Ragsdale Field for seating." Dimitri said. "So I am in favor of that idea as a venue. This is a neutral site, but it is in the hometown of Columbus. Either way the goal is to win the series in my opinion, no matter the location. It would be nice to have a home crowd on hand to see the event. I believe our fans will travel well if we get lucky enough for this game."
Northside coach Dee Miller said he could see both sides of the argument.
"I understand the reason behind making the move and see both positives and negatives about the decision," Miller said. "Towns and cities like Columbus who love their baseball, have a big draw to late round playoff games, especially championship series, and it is hard to accommodate as many people who come to see those games at most high schools. So it will be good for the viewing pleasure of the fans who can attend the games at the neutral site. Negatively you will lose out on some people traveling out of town for those games as where they would attend if it were in town. As a coach, I would love to continue seeing those games played on campus, but at the end of the day our goal is to play for and win a state championship. Location does not matter to us."
Kevin Price, Follow Kevin on Twitter @lesports
This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Kevin Price: Local coaches less than thrilled with decision to play baseball finals at neutral site ."