A baseball game in Wisconsin was called off after three innings this week when Three Lakes High School ran up a 45-0 lead against Phelps High School.
"It was kind of embarrassing. I feel bad," Three Lakes coach Jeff Liebscher told the local newspaper.
When I see scores like 45-0 in high school sports, I always feel like it's got to be poor sportsmanship on the part of the winning team, and one detail in the local newspaper account -- the fact that Three Lakes stole 11 bases in the first inning -- makes me think this was another such case.
On the other hand, from all indications, the Phelps High School team is just really, really bad.
For one thing, Three Lakes entered the game with a 1-2 record, and lost its previous game 15-0. So this wasn't some powerhouse team beating up on Weak Sisters of the Poor. This was a mediocre team beating up on a team that would probably lose to Weak Sisters of the Poor.
For another thing, Liebscher said he didn't even play all his top players.
"We have starters that didn't even get on the field on defense," Liebscher said. "It could be a long season for (Phelps)."
I'd say so.
The most impressive player for Three Lakes would have to be pitcher Ben Wales, who threw a no-hitter and went 6-for-6 at the plate, hitting for the cycle in the process. Alas, Wales' stats don't count, and neither does the game. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association considers this one a forfeit.
"It was kind of embarrassing. I feel bad," Three Lakes coach Jeff Liebscher told the local newspaper.
When I see scores like 45-0 in high school sports, I always feel like it's got to be poor sportsmanship on the part of the winning team, and one detail in the local newspaper account -- the fact that Three Lakes stole 11 bases in the first inning -- makes me think this was another such case.
On the other hand, from all indications, the Phelps High School team is just really, really bad.
For one thing, Three Lakes entered the game with a 1-2 record, and lost its previous game 15-0. So this wasn't some powerhouse team beating up on Weak Sisters of the Poor. This was a mediocre team beating up on a team that would probably lose to Weak Sisters of the Poor.
For another thing, Liebscher said he didn't even play all his top players.
"We have starters that didn't even get on the field on defense," Liebscher said. "It could be a long season for (Phelps)."
I'd say so.
The most impressive player for Three Lakes would have to be pitcher Ben Wales, who threw a no-hitter and went 6-for-6 at the plate, hitting for the cycle in the process. Alas, Wales' stats don't count, and neither does the game. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association considers this one a forfeit.
