Johns Creek High School wins second GHSA appeal over controversial call

UPSON COUNTY, Ga. - The Johns Creek High School baseball team won the second appeal to the Georgia High School Association Board of Trustees after a controversial call in a playoff game.

Johns Creek and Lee County will attempt to play game 3 on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Lee County, though rain is in the forecast. The 6A championship series has been moved to Friday. The 9-member GHSA Board of Trustees voted on the appeal on Monday at 10 a.m.

The first appeal failed as the GHSA appeals committee voted 3-1 against changing the call. Johns Creek needed a unanimous vote to overturn the call during the first hearing.

App users:  Click here to watch the controversial call

The high school appealed the first vote and sent the controversial call to the GHSA Board of Trustees. The first appeals committee deliberated in public and cited that the ruling was a judgment call by umpires, thus video could not be considered.

The playoff baseball series was between Johns Creek and Lee County in the 6A semifinals. The Gladiators lost game one, and needed a victory in game two to keep the series alive,

Game two was tied 3-3 in the 7th inning when Lee County walked in the game-winning run for Johns Creek. Thus, a game three would have been necessary.

However, Lee County appealed that a runner had missed a bag during the walk-off bases loaded walk. The umpires overturned the game-winning run in favor of Lee County, and the game continued after the 20-minute discussion.

Lee County went on to win the game in extra innings, which ended John Creek's season unless the second appeal is successful.