This week (1/22/07) the WIAA has decided to only allow the 3A and 4A teams to play their State Championship baseball games in Safeco. So the 1A and 2A are back to Wenatchee. Here are the reasons the WIAA cited for keeping the 1A and 2A in Wenatchee even though they have never done an actual site evaluation in Wenatchee.
1. Playing on Sunday.
Yeah I'm glad that if my kid is playing for a State Championship that he will get to play in Wenatchee on Saturday rather than playing in Safeco. I'd hate to miss church.
2. No consolation games.
Is there a big difference between 3rd and 4th?
3. No comparable site for girls.
Go find whatever the best softball field in the State is and play the softball state titles there. Do any of the volleyball state championship sites compare with the Tacoma Dome?
4. Increased Facility Charges
Maybe if the 3A and 4A weren't playing at Safeco there would be enough money for the 1A and 2A to use the Yakima Bears Stadium.
5. Relations with traditional communities that host the baseball championships.
Is it more important to keep Yakima business owners happy or give the best possible experience to the kids?
6. A Five-day event
At least now there has been some discussion about moving the championship sites, but don't forget that the WIAA thought they could just move the 1A/2A championship and no one would notice. It seems like maybe the WIAA had a "discussion" about everybody playing in Safeco just to say that they did. I don't think they ever had any intentions of moving the B's out of Yakima and the 1A and 2A out of Wenatchee. Cindy Hettinger and the WIAA handled this as poorly as possible.
1. Playing on Sunday.
Yeah I'm glad that if my kid is playing for a State Championship that he will get to play in Wenatchee on Saturday rather than playing in Safeco. I'd hate to miss church.
2. No consolation games.
Is there a big difference between 3rd and 4th?
3. No comparable site for girls.
Go find whatever the best softball field in the State is and play the softball state titles there. Do any of the volleyball state championship sites compare with the Tacoma Dome?
4. Increased Facility Charges
Maybe if the 3A and 4A weren't playing at Safeco there would be enough money for the 1A and 2A to use the Yakima Bears Stadium.
5. Relations with traditional communities that host the baseball championships.
Is it more important to keep Yakima business owners happy or give the best possible experience to the kids?
6. A Five-day event
At least now there has been some discussion about moving the championship sites, but don't forget that the WIAA thought they could just move the 1A/2A championship and no one would notice. It seems like maybe the WIAA had a "discussion" about everybody playing in Safeco just to say that they did. I don't think they ever had any intentions of moving the B's out of Yakima and the 1A and 2A out of Wenatchee. Cindy Hettinger and the WIAA handled this as poorly as possible.