When a baseball pitcher gets neither the win nor the loss in a game, he gets a “no decision.”

That’s the status now as the Llano Independent School District searches for a girls’ varsity basketball coach to succeed Brandon Walters. He resigned last month after five successful seasons.

As of June 3, the committee had interviewed four or five applicants, and another three or four will come in for talks in the next few days. It’s possible a candidate to present to the school board could be chosen next week.

The Llano News has been asked not to release the names of the hopefuls, so, since Woodward and Bernstein are not on staff here, we will respect that request.

One name which can be made public is Tony Taylor of San Saba. He has decided to remain as head coach of the Lady Armadillos. Another man who is due to be interviewed June 5 is Tate Lombard. His name is being mentioned in print because he won’t be jeopardizing any position by applying for another.

Lombard, a young assistant coach with no head-coaching experience, is the son of Joe Lombard, who has won a thousand games in his Hall of Fame career and almost that many state championships. Joe has led Canyon to five, Class-3A crowns in the last six years. In 2003 and in 2007, the Eagles beat Llano at the Erwin Center. So, you figure if Tate has been taking notes, ..............

It has been learned that the applicants include two people from 3A schools and a pair from 4A schools. It appears all four bring quality in different ways to the basketball arena.

The selection committee is certainly one which knows sports and the community: athletic director, David Yeager; girls’ coordinator and volleyball coach, Shawn Sweeten; high school principal, Charles Baker; teacher and parent of two of the Lady Jackets’ best players ever, Debbie Rabb; and parent and former Llano mayor, Terry Hutto.

Their task is a tough one; you simply cannot learn everything from interviews and background checks and wins and losses. Mistakes in hiring coaches are made at all levels, but good decisions are made, too. Our belief is, another good one will be made in this case.