Tests or Title: Did MIAA Make the Right Call Making Baseball Players Choose?

Chelmsford and Methuen baseball players found themselves in a tricky position on Saturday after a decision by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association that many believed forced the student-athletes to choose between academics or athletics.

The two teams were originally scheduled to play in the North Division 1 semifinal game on Thursday, but with it clear early in the week that rain was in the forecast, the schools asked the MIAA to move the game to Tuesday in anticipation of the bad weather.

The reason? Both schools had players scheduled to take the SATs on Saturday, when the game would have been moved to in the event of a rain out. In addition, Chelmsford's graduation was scheduled for 6 p.m. with students asked to arrive by 4 p.m.

Despite both sides agreeing to play earlier in the week, the MIAA declined, saying that moving the site of the game to Lynn would lead to lower attendance numbers than playing in Lowell closer to home for each semifinalist.

On Thursday, night, the rain came as expected. And controversy followed.

The MIAA rescheduled the semifinal tilt for Saturday at 10 a.m., square in the middle of the SATs. On Friday, Methuen and Chelmsford asked the MIAA again to move the game, but were again denied.

Both teams considered boycotting the Saturday game, but opted to play. Chelmsford took the field without four players, while Methuen hit the diamond without three players.

“We wanted to provide everyone with an equal opportunity to play a game at a terrific venue with a great atmosphere,” MIAA associate executive director Richard Pearson said, according to the Boston Herald. “We felt Chelmsford had plenty of time to play their game before the graduation.”

Methuen and Chelmsford, however, disagreed.

"They made the ruling, and I was not pleased with the ruling," Chelmsford head coach Mike O'Keefe told Patch.

O'Keefe's team went on to win Saturday's game by a 7-5 margin, advancing to Sunday's North Division 1 championship. The Lions then lost to Andover, 6-3, in the title game.

The Chelmsford head coach said he hopes in the offseason the MIAA, its coaches and athletics directors can work together to make changes so a similar situation does not arise in the future.

"I would hope so. If that is what comes out of this, than that would be great for all of the teams in all sports," said O'Keefe. "We don't want to have kids have to make that choice. It was unfortunate that it happened. The MIAA is in a tough position with all the games it has to schedule. But I think flexibility when it comes to a major academic event like that needs to be considered."

What is your take on the situation? Did the MIAA make the right decision not to move the game, or should the contest have been rescheduled to accommodate the players taking the test? Let us know in the comments section below.