Slashers fold, Jayhawk League standings amended

The Joplin Slashers are at the forefront of some major and controversial changes in this year's Jayhawk League standings.

Inital reports that the Slashers have folded their season early and all games that took place between them and league opponents would be forfeited have been confirmed. The league commissioner has ruled that Joplin will finish 0-36 in the league, giving the Liberal Beejays two more wins this year and the Derby Twins one.

With this boost in records from the league commissioner, Liberal pulls to within a half game of Nevada for the all-important third spot in the league standings and Derby adds to their advantage over the Griffons for second.

The Griffons organization has yet to receive the official letter of decision from the league commission, but general manager Jason Meisenheimer told the Daily Mail that the decision has been made official with no possible recourse until the league commission convenes for its annual meeting in September.

Meisenheimer said that he has spoken with Joplin's organizational leaders and has determined that the fold was not intended as a withdrawal from the league as initial reports and rumors suggested, but merely the result of the team's players being unwilling to sit through the week-long break before the final two games against the Griffons that were scheduled for next week. "In respect to the Slashers' organization, I sympathize for them," Meisenheimer said.

There are currently no precedents or by-laws being cited by the league commissioner to justify the decision, but it has been finalized and no appeals will be heard before the commission meets. By-laws that were already set forth by the league dictate that the two games Joplin did not play should go in record books as forfeits.

Meisenheimer still has every intent to fight the decision to the fullest extent of his ability and is actively seeking a resolution that will be fair to all involved, stating that he simply "will not recognize the revised standings." With the crucial third spot in the league seemingly slipping from the Griffons' grasp by no fault of their own, Meisenheimer and the rest of the Griffons organization will actively pursue any possible options at getting into the NBC World Series.

The Griffons currently sit in third place, three games out of first behind the Hays Larks and the Derby Twins, with the Liberal Beejays moving up to within just half a game of taking that spot away. With the last series of the year for Nevada now coming against Hays at Larks Park, a strong showing in the remaining games is crucial to maintaining a top three position.

Should the Griffons fall back in the standings, there is still a chance for them to play in the NBC, however. Meisenheimer told the Daily Mail that, historically, teams have dropped out of the World Series for one reason or another, thus leaving openings for other teams that did not qualify through tournaments or league standings to be invited in as the recipients of at-large bids. "I don't doubt that the NBC will grant at-large berths as they are warranted," Meisenheimer noted.

This decision to simply reverse the outcomes of all league games that the Slashers have played this year has been the source of ongoing frustration for the Griffons organization. "I just don't like for the standings to be determined off the field," Meisenheimer said.

The Griffons are in a better financial position to continue to thrive as a team this year over last year, thus further compounding the frustration of possibly not making the World Series. Meisenheimer stressed heavily his grattitude toward the fans and the community for all the financial support that the Griffons have received and said he will do whatever it takes to keep the team going and be as successful as possible.

Thanks to all the support the Griffons have gained this year and the success on the field, this new development within the league has brought forth many negative feelings from Meisenheimer and the organization about how the issue has been handled. "For something like this to jeopardize us is disappointing," Meisenheimer said.

The Griffons are looking at several possible options for replacing the two games that were scheduled for the nights of July 29 and 30 at Lyons Stadium. Negotiations are in the works for possible games with teams from the Springfield area and the Ban Johnson League, with a home run derby as an alternative option, should one of the as yet unconfirmed games fall through.

The scheduled memorabilia auction will still occur and may accompany either a game or the home run derby. Either way, Meisenheimer said, both nights will be filled by events of some sort for fans to enjoy.

The Griffons are currently still out on a six game road trip that will end with three games against Hays before coming back to Nevada and, according to Meisenheimer, will still continue to play and do everything they can to maintain a high enough league standing to make the World Series without relying on an at-large bid.

The Liberal Beejays, however, will continue their efforts as well, with their final series of the year coming in El Dorado, Kan.