HTC, FMHS could share baseball program this year

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - The Fort Madison School board voted Monday night to approve an agreement to allow Holy Trinity Catholic student athletes to play baseball for the Bloodhounds this summer.

At the board's regular meeting Monday night, the board voted unanimously to support a recommendation from Fort Madison Athletic Director Jeremy Swink to create the shared program.

The move was part of the annual approval for shared programs including football, wrestling, swimming, cross-country, tennis and track. Fort Madison currently shares and hosts football, wrestling, girls cross country, boys and girls track, and girls and boys tennis with Holy Trinity Catholic. They also share a swimming program with Keokuk who hosts the team, and wrestling with Central Lee High School.

Board President Tim Wondra said the extra numbers will allow a junior varsity and a varsity squad. He said it will also help with inning restrictions for coaches and pitchers.

Board member Lois DiPrima said she had heard that HTC wasn't able to get enough players to fill a team this year and board member Brian Steffensmeier said he had heard they were having trouble as well.

The Holy Trinity board has scheduled to look at the issue at their next board meeting.

"It's working out for both schools and programs," Wondra said.

Holy Trinity went 7-14 last year and lost to Fort Madison 1-6 at Fort Madison High School. The Bloodhounds went 5-20 on the campaign.