Someone should tell the commissioners at the Ohio High School Athletic Association that their salaries and budgets aren’t in line with most fans.

The OHSAA is charging $7 for regional games in advance and $9 at the gate. Schools only get a percentage of the presale.

Most fans don’t buy tickets until they go to the game. With games on Fridays and Saturdays, most people get paid on Friday and often can’t buy tickets in advance or don’t have the time.

This works well for the OHSAA. The more people who buy tickets at the gate means the more money for the OHSAA and less for the schools who generate the crowds and the money for the organization.

However, this can hurt the state. The fan who doesn’t have a team in the playoffs but who just wants to see a game usually buys a ticket at the gate. If they know he cost is $9, they’ll pass on going. And forget the family with three or four kids — I have five — who go to the game. It will cost a family of four $36 and that doesn’t include any concessions and the fact gasoline prices have soared to $3 a gallon.

The OHSAA should just give schools a flat fee for each game. If a school is hosting a first round game, give them extra money to cover expenses such as utilities and workers. Leave the ticket prices the same in advance or at the gate.

To a point I can understand charging $8 for a semifinal game or $9 for the championship game. But if the game is more affordable, more fans will buy tickets. It’s better to sell 10 tickets at $5 each than four tickets at $9.

I guess I’ll never get elected to the Board of Control.

Wentz, Shawnee win MSC

The Shawnee State Bears first season in the Mid-South Conference might make the others teams wished they hadn’t accepted their application.

The Bears won the conference cross country meet Monday on their home course with a perfect score of 15 points. Shawnee State placed in nine of the top 10 places.

Former Fairland Dragons’ distance runner Chuck Wentz finished seventh overall with a 26:06 time.

The only runner in the top 10 who wasn’t a member of the SSU team was Rio Grande’s Nick Wilson who finished sixth at 25:42. Rio Grande was fourth overall with 117 points.

Clifford to coach

Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated.

Stories were circulating that Portsmouth football coach Curt Clifford was contemplating retirement at the end of this past season.

But those rumors were just that. The Portsmouth alumnus said he has no plans to retire and will be back on the sidelines next fall.

Clifford has more career wins than any coach in school history. He has guided the Trojans to eight of their nine playoff appearances including a Final Four appearance in 2000 when they won their only Associated Press poll championship.

—— Sinatra ——

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.