By Kendrick Marshall
Black College Wire

Jackson State University has decided to withdraw its baseball team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament set for May 18-21 after discovering that a second and third ineligible player competed during the 2006 season.

Head baseball coach Mark Salter has been relieved of his duties with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Omar Johnson, assistant baseball coach, is to serve in the interim, university officials announced May 10.

Salter could not be reached for comment.

Jackson State Athletics Director Robert Braddy said the matter had been reported to SWAC Commissioner Robert Vowels and the NCAA.

The Tigers (22-13 overall, 14-9 SWAC) finished the SWAC season May 9 with a 8-5 loss to Alcorn State University. The team concludes the season May 11-13 with the Black College Throwback Classic in Gary, lnd.

Braddy identified Cedric James and J.J. Jackson as the latest two ineligible players. Braddy said James, a sophomore, was academically ineligible and Jackson, a freshman, was never approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse, a national organization that must certify the academic eligibility of incoming athletes.

The decision comes in light of Vowels' ruling May 3 that the Tigers had to forfeit four divisional games as a result of having an ineligible player on the roster.

Based on information submitted by Jackson State to the SWAC office, Donte Hill, a senior pitcher, was granted a medical hardship waiver. He played in fewer than 20 percent of the Tigers games in 2005 due to a broken arm suffered before the season began.

According to the SWAC, Hill participated illegally in four conference games this season, two against Mississippi Valley State and two against Alabama State.

Jackson State contends that the SWAC reinstated Hill for the rest of the 2006 season after he was forced to sit out a three-game series March 24-25 against Alcorn State due to eligibility concerns.

Mississippi Valley State University, which was in second place at the conclusion of the regular season, has been declared SWAC East champion.

Prior to the ruling, Jackson State led the SWAC East division with an 18-5 record, followed by Mississippi Valley State with 18-6. Alcorn State was third with 13-9.

"I think this is so unfair," said Jackson State senior outfielder Anton Shinhoster. It just seems like we have run into another tough situation. It will be hard to finish the year."

For seeding purposes in the SWAC Tournament, Mississippi Valley State captures the East title with a 20-4 record. Jackson State%e2%80%99s record changes to 14-10 and Alcorn State stands at 14-9.

"It is unfortunate that this incident occurred considering the success our baseball team has had this season," said Jackson State President Ronald Mason Jr. "We will treat this matter as a very serious one and move forward while continuing to strive for excellence at Jackson State, on the field and in the classroom."

Kendrick Marshall, a student at Jackson State University, writes for the Blue & White Flash.

Posted May 10, 2006