What if there's a three-way tie in 4-5A?

By AL PICKETT
Sports Editor

What happens if the District 4-5A baseball race ends in a three-way tie?

That's a likely possibility, and a potential plan to break both a three-way and a two-way tie was determined Wednesday in a series of coin flips. Abilene High won the coin toss and gets a bye in a potential three-way playoff, but Cooper gets a home game while Abilene High might have to go on the road.

Midland Lee currently leads the District 4-5A standings with a 9-3 mark, and the Rebels have already finished district play. Abilene High and Cooper are tied for second at 8-3, a half-game behind Midland Lee. The Eagles and Cougars close out their district season Friday, Abilene High at home against Odessa High and Cooper at Odessa Permian.

If Abilene High and Cooper both win Friday, a three-way playoff would be necessary to determine the order of the district's three playoff representatives. In a three-way playoff:

* Abilene High won the coin toss and will receive a bye.

* Cooper and Midland Lee will play at noon Saturday at Cooper's Cougar Field.

* If Cooper wins that game, the Cougars and Abilene High would play Monday at a neutral site to be determined in Abilene.

* If Midland Lee wins, Abilene High will play at Midland Lee at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
If Abilene High wins Friday but Cooper loses - or vice-versa - there would be a two-way tie with Midland Lee and one of the Abilene schools for the district championship. In that scenario:


* If it's Abilene High, the Eagles will play at Midland Lee at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
* If it's Cooper, Lee will face Cooper at noon at Cougar Field.

If both the Eagles and Cougars lose Friday, the two Abilene schools would have to have a playoff to determine second and third place in the district, probably at a neutral site Monday in Abilene.