Burlington-Notre Dame junior Cody Gabella will not be able to play baseball his junior season for the Nikes. That’s after the Iowa High School Athletic Association upheld his season-long suspension.
Gabella was suspended for taking part in an exhibition game on April 7th between the Burlington Bees of the Midwest League and Southeastern Community College. He appealed the decision and lost. Gabella’s father Jim is the manager of the Bees.
Gabella made two plate appearances in the exhibition game, which violated rules set forth by the athletic association that say a high school athlete can’t compete in an interscholastic sport if they have participated in a contest, or trained with, a sanctioned collegiate team in that same sport.
Notre Dame Principal Ron Glasgow was unhappy with the ruling. The next step in the appeal process would go through the Department of Education. Cody Gabella will still be eligible to play for the Nikes his senior year.