The Stone Poneys had a quick and unceremonious exit from the Lakewood League Class C playoffs today. A complaint issued to the League by the Sartell Muskies, and presented to the State Board by the St. Joseph Saints, resulted in a decision by the State Board that eliminated the Poneys from the playoffs.

In the Poneys'  first playoff game vs Litchfield last week,  D.J. Argetsinger played 1/2 inning, making no plays in the field and having no at-bat. Argetsinger made 5 regular season appearances for the Poneys since being signed on 6/15/12, but only 3 were in league games. Players must appear in 4 league games to qualify for the playoffs. Furthermore, Argetsinger was removed from the Poneys' playoff roster before it was submitted, based on a delay in receiving his written Release from his former team, the Alexandria Senators. The Senators folded last year. While Argetsinger and the Poneys were able to verbally confirm his release from his former manager, the Senators didn't get the written release to the Poneys before the playoff rosters were submitted two weeks later.

The disappointing news takes the luster off the Poneys' first round 2-game sweep of Litchfield last weekend. Sunday's game, in particular, was a barn burner. The lead changed hands several times, with the Poneys finally coming out on top 17-16. The game was close early, with Rob Gabrielson and Kaleb Kalkbrenner dueling through 7 innings before leaving with the Poneys on top 7-5. A total of 21 runs crossed the plate in the next two innings, as both teams were swinging the bats. Litchfield was notified of the ineligible player early this week, but did not wish to protest the result or involve the State Board.

The remaining teams in the playoffs, now that the Poneys have been eliminated, are the Sartell Muskies, the St. Joseph Saints, and the Clear Lake Lakers. The Poneys were to have played the Muskies today, with the winner playing the winner of the Saints/Lakers game tomorrow. The loser of the Muskies/Poneys game was to have played the loser of the Saints/Lakers game tomorrow. Rob Gabrielson was scheduled to start today, with strikeout artist Alex Lotthammer taking the mound tomorrow.

The significant consequence for the Poneys, other than loss of playoff eligibility this year, is that the team must petition the State Board for reinstatement  in the Minnesota Baseball Association next season.  Both the team and the player are subject to potential one-year suspensions. Sources say that the State Board rarely invokes one-year suspensions. The Poneys have been encouraged to appear before the State Board at its next scheduled meeting in February, 2013. Contracts and Releases may only be signed between March 15 and June 30 in the Minnesota Baseball Association.