AURORA — Not so fast on the Class 5A championship series baseball qualifiers.
Broomfield’s Legacy, which downed Lewis-Palmer and Grand Junction in last weekend’s district rounds, inadvertently used an ineligible player. Lightning officials discovered the infraction, self-reported it to the Colorado High School Activities Association, appealed the case to the state board this week and were denied Tuesday.
“It’s due to grades,” a disappointed Lightning athletic director Lee Peters said. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it.”
Hence, Legacy forfeited the two district victories and Lewis-Palmer will meet Grand Junction today at 4 p.m. at All-City Field, the winner to take the Lightning’s spot in the eight-team, double-elimination field.
CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said he appreciated Legacy being diligent and forthright about the situation and called the need for an alternative team “unfortunate.”
Today’s winner will meet Dakota Ridge on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at All-City Field in a Championship Series opener.
Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
