DeKalb County High School Baseball Coach Scott Odom will have to sit out the rest of the season.
DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps suspended Coach Odom this week based on allegations that a TSSAA regulation was violated when Little League umpires were scheduled for the DCHS game against Watertown Tuesday in Smithville. The Tigers won that game on senior night 8 to 7.
“Gene McNeese of the TSSAA called me on Wednesday with a charge that our baseball program had violated a TSSAA rule and regulation,” said Cripps in an interview with WJLE Friday. “That violation was using unregistered umpires in a TSSAA game. Upon investigation it was found that we did violate that rule. At that time I decided to suspend Coach Odom for the remainder of the baseball season. We’ve got to look at what’s best for the program,” said Cripps.
The suspension only applies to Odom’s coaching duties. It has no impact on his teaching job.
The game with Watertown, originally scheduled for Monday, April 29 using TSSAA umpires, was rained out. Reportedly, TSSAA umpires were not available for a Tuesday make-up game and Watertown could not re-schedule for Wednesday. The district tournament began Thursday.
WJLE contacted Coach Odom by email Friday. He replied stating he did not wish to make a comment at this time.
Assistant Coach Andrew Dixon will serve as acting head coach for the remainder of the post season.
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