Downingtown East forfeits Monday win

Downingtown East notified Ches-Mont League president Michael Barber on Thursday that it is forfeiting its Monday baseball game against West Chester East because the Cougars used an ineligible player.

Downingtown East won the game, the last of the regular season, 5-4, to clinch its first National Division title. But Vikings coach Dean Owens filed a protest, contending the Cougars had used pitcher Matt Ternowchek in violation of National Federation of High Schools rules.

Ternowchek had pitched seven innings Friday then worked the seventh inning against East. Under NFHS rules, which the PIAA uses, if a player pitches in six or more innings in a day, he must rest for three calendar days.

The two teams were tied for the division lead entering the game. - Don Beideman