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She missed home plate!

 

Yes she did! It happened last night.

 

Hello Everyone – Tonight I have a great story for you. This one comes from my friends in Wausaukee. The Rangers took on Peshtigo last night in a game for that would determine first place finishes.

 

I ve written on many occasions the importance of coaches knowing the rule book as well or better than the umpires who are there administering the game. The game last night is a great example of why that s important and why sometimes it just doesn t seem to matter.

Here is the scenario. Wasuakee trailed 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. They rallied and scored six runs to take a 6-5 lead. There were two outs and a runner aboard. The Ranger #9 batter was at the plate. She hit a towering home run over the rightcenter field fence.  She circles the bases and his headed for the dugout when suddenly the home plate umpire hollers, ""The batter is out, she missed home plate!" The Wausaukee coachs readily admit that the kid really miss touching home plate.  The Wausaukee coaches argued that the call had to be an appeal by the defensive team and that it was not the umpire s place to make that call without the appeal. The umpire insisted that it was his call because she made a move toward the dugout. Wausaukee argued that she could go up to the dugout as long as she didn't leave the field of play, and that the umpire had no authority to make such a call. Wausaukee insisted that if the defense had failed to appeal the play would stand when the next pitch was thrown to the next batter. Then the umpire said that Sue Stoltenberg, Wausaukee s head coach had left the coaches box and was telling the runner to go back and touch home plate and and said that that act is against the rules. Wausaukee challenged that claim also with no success.  According to reports, it took about ten minutes the two umpires said that the Wausaukee players assisted the runner when they were giving the home run hitter "high fives. Wausaukee went so far as to refer to the rule book. Earlier in the game Wausaukee actually successfully appealed a leaving early play by a Peshtigo player. The umpires didn t change the call and the batter was called out. Peshtigo rallied for five runs and took a 10-7 lead. Wausaukee battled back and eventually won the game 11-10.

 

The Wausaukee coaches were correct. An appeal must come from the defensive team (rule 2-1-1, page 17 of the rulebook). "A play or rule violation on which an umpire does not make a ruling until requested by a coach or player." If none, it is a home run.

 

 

There is no protest in Wisconsin at this time.  Per rule 4-4 page 45 protests are optional on the part of a state association.

 

M&O Conference standings

Wausaukee 9-1    (13-3 overall)

Peshtigo 9-1 (12-4 overall)

St. Thomas Aquinas Academy  5-5

Crivitz  5-5

Gillett  2-8

Coleman  0-9

 

By the way, UW Eau Claire is also at the NCAA Division 3 National Tournament. Wisconsin and the WIAC have two of the eight schools in the tournament.

 

Have a great day!

Keep it Rising!

Bob