Baldwin questions PIAA rule clarity at WPIAL hearing

Baldwin's baseball team is facing scrutiny after holding a joint workout with another school during a restricted period. This incident was discussed at a WPIAL hearing on Monday. Baldwin's representatives admitted the mistake but questioned the clarity of the PIAA rule that prohibits team competitions in the 10 days before the first official preseason practice. On February 22, Baldwin and Central Valley baseball teams practiced together, which fell within that restricted time frame. This is the second consecutive year Baldwin has violated this rule. WPIAL's executive director stated that any disciplinary action would be announced in the next 10 days. The PIAA had already placed Central Valley on probation and removed one of their scrimmages for the next season. Baldwin's athletic director challenged the interpretation of "competition," arguing it was ambiguous. Although batters from one school faced pitchers from the other during the workout, there were no official umpires, bases, or fielders present. Baldwin's new baseball coach, Scott Wolf, admitted he was aware of the rule but forgot about it at the time. He explained the joint workout had been postponed due to winter weather. Approximately 45 players attended the session, with 30 from Baldwin. Wolf recognized the oversight and said he would ensure future joint workouts receive his approval. Baldwin's athletic director also stated that new policies will be implemented to avoid similar situations in the future. The baseball team had a challenging season last year, finishing with a 1-19 record. The current rule was established in 2019 and aims to limit potential competition during the pre-season.