Baseball Release (2003-04)- Off Season News - Guilford College
- McBane-gate Scandal Rocks World Series Infrastructure
Greensboro, NC (09/19/03) - The annual Guilford College Baseball Intrasquad World Series will take on a new look this fall as Team Black has failed to meet financial obligations required to maintain a franchise and has been contracted by commissioner, Gene Baker.
"We cannot let the accounting shortcomings of one franchise drag our whole league underwater," Baker said. "Team Black (winner of the last four fall classics) has been under investigation for a variety of issues, from corked bats and steroid abuse, to salary cap infractions and work-study embezzlement. We now have indisputable evidence of serious league violations, and feel it is in our best interest to act quickly and decisively."
Senior A.J. McCauley, a Team Black member since November of 2000, has disputed any and all claims against the operation of his ballclub.
"I don't know, they just said play centerfield and bat leadoff," McCauley said. "I thought the cash in the envelope was to pay for bubblegum."
McCauley has been suspended from play in this years series, but may fill a coaching spot should one be vacated. Longtime shortstop and recent retiree, Zach Morgan was the only member of last year's defeated Team Cardinal squad that could be reached for comment.
"I told you they cheated," Morgan said. "No one wanted to listen to what old Keeb had to say, but everybody hears it now. I think they should have to forfeit all four of those series victories. Everyone should have known that for my team to lose four consecutive series there had to be some kind of fix."
Morgan's comments have been largely discounted as he remains the only four-time loser in the history of the Intrasquad World Series (dating back to 1977), and most feel his disenchantment is a bad case of sour grapes.
Be that as it may, only six players from Team Black's 2002 championship squad are currently eligible for the re-entry draft to be held in the next couple of weeks, with McCauley suspended and lefty Matt Spoerlein on the disabled list. With the dominant team of the millennium now disbanded, there is a mad scramble to assemble a contender to four-time runner up Team Cardinal. The Buffalo Bills of the world series crowd, Team Cardinal views Team Black's demise as an unexpected windfall. Jeff Ebert and Ciahnan Miller have been with Team Cardinal each of the last two years. Neither were able to string together and understandable comment on short notice. Ebert mentioned something about burning a lab, while Miller saluted, put on a pair of boots and took off at a jog pace.
The leading contender for Team Black's vacant slot appears to be Team Gray. A new team to the loop, the Grays have shown great promise despite the white logo on their light-gray jerseys. "We consider it a rallying point." one of their players was heard to say. It's still anyone's race down the stretch, but one fact is known: there will be no repeat winner in this year's series.
- Gene Baker