Midland College’s protest over its 5-4 loss to Western Texas College Saturday was summarily denied by the WJCAC Tuesday, leaving Midland as the third seed.<p></b></i></u>
WTC athletic director Dave Hanes said there were three reasons given for the denial of the protest.<p></b></i></u>
First, NJCAA by-laws do not allow protest over umpires after the fact. Secondly, the protest board found no action by the umpires that affected the outcome of the game and also said that the protest should have been lodged prior to the start of play.<p></b></i></u>
WTC will play New Mexico Military Institue at 10 a.m. Thursday in El Paso in the conference play-in game.<p></b></i></u>
The winner will face Midland College in the first round. </b></u></i><P ALIGN LEFT><hr>