Sugarland this weekend

[AE27]

Am I the only one that is excited about this weekend?? I have not heard much talk about it. The weather will be great, the teams will be good and there will be lots of college coaches roaming around. Let's get it on!! Go Aces!!

[doittoit]

I'll give you a reply AE27 since nobody else will... C'mon and do it... do it... do it til your satisfied... Just doittoit!!!

We'll be in Sugarland this weekend. Gonna have my sun screen with me too. It's gonna be nice and SUNNY and I will need my sun screen. Maybe a blanket too!!

What games will be the one to watch? I bet there are lots of them. Are they gonna have college umps too?? I hope so.

[AE27]

Due to other commitments, I wasn't able to make it out to Sugarland yesterday. But I heard Aces Express kicked some butt and looked good doing it. I hear they have their plate full for today.... GAE.... KSA!!!

[Underdog]

[AE27]

What a great day it was!!!! Saw some really good softball and some really horrible umpiring. I would bet that the three umpires on field #9 that did the UH - Ragin Cagin game will not be considered for the NCAA. I counted at least three terrible mistakes they made. The game was good to watch though as it is amazing how much faster paced it is in college.

Aces did well, but would have to say the best 16U team I saw was the Houston Power. They are the real deal and I was very impressed with their play.

Until next time bat friends, ya'll have a good week. I think this beautiful weather will be coming to an end later in the week.

AEKA

[topper]

What a great day it was!!!! Saw some really good softball and some really horrible umpiring. I would bet that the three umpires on field #9 that did the UH - Ragin Cagin game will not be considered for the NCAA. I counted at least three terrible mistakes they made. The game was good to watch though as it is amazing how much faster paced it is in college.

So were these "mistakes" simply calls that you disagreed with or was it something like a missed partial rotation from a rotated starting position due to U1 being frozen by U3's turning but not committing on a fly ball hit to the "V"? Or was it when U1, from a counter-rotated starting position, decided to pivot rather that work the rim on a single to the wedge and avoiding the throwing lane caused him to be straight-lined on F4's tag on the BR? Or did the PU revert to the standard ASA holding position for a possible play at the plate rather than using the prescribed point-of-plate position?

Do you really know what is being looked at? The last sentence makes me wonder.

[AE27]

What a great day it was!!!! Saw some really good softball and some really horrible umpiring. I would bet that the three umpires on field #9 that did the UH - Ragin Cagin game will not be considered for the NCAA. I counted at least three terrible mistakes they made. The game was good to watch though as it is amazing how much faster paced it is in college.

So were these "mistakes" simply calls that you disagreed with or was it something like a missed partial rotation from a rotated starting position due to U1 being frozen by U3's turning but not committing on a fly ball hit to the "V"? Or was it when U1, from a counter-rotated starting position, decided to pivot rather that work the rim on a single to the wedge and avoiding the throwing lane caused him to be straight-lined on F4's tag on the BR? Or did the PU revert to the standard ASA holding position for a possible play at the plate rather than using the prescribed point-of-plate position?

Do you really know what is being looked at? The last sentence makes me wonder.

Example #1 - It was more like the U3 calling interference on the runner going from second to third by extending his left arm out until the play was over, when the ball was hit almost straight up the middle and the SS had no chance whatsoever of making a play on the ball, nor was any contact made. (I know that contact does not have to be made, just thought I would let you know that there wasn't any though) While watching the play develop, I figured he was protecting the runner by an obstruction called (left arm extended). You definately know more than I do by the language you have used but I have always thought that if interference is called, the ball is dead and runner that interfered with the fielder is called out. This guy let the whole play go until the ball was dead, then approached the PU and said he had interference and would not give the offensive coach the coutesy of asking the PU as she clearly had a better view of the ball hit up the middle. It is a judgement call but I question why wasn't the play called dead and be done with it? Please explain if I am wrong.

Example #2 - Lefted handed batter HBP, awarded first base by the PU. Defensive coach ask PU to appeal to one of her crew that the batter swung at the pitch. PU asks U1 and he said no, she did not swing. Opposing coach then asks PU to ask U3 and he said she did swing. They brought the batter back to the plate. You no doubt know more than I do, but seems to me that defensive coach got two appeals on one play and I did not know that was legal. Please explain.

Example #3 - This one is totally my opinion, but the PU was totally out of her league for this type of game. Her strike zone was about 30" wide, but to her credit, she did call strikes that far out for both teams.

Example #4 - I spoke with someone who approached this umpire crew before the game and asked them two questions. I will let you answer these for me and everybody else as I am sure a lot of people would like to know, I know I do. Question #1 - If a batted ball hits the outfield fence, then bounces off of a players head, glove or any part of her body and goes over the fence, what is the ruling? I say ground rule double. They said homerun. Question #2 - If a batted ball hits off of a players head, glove or any part of their body and then goes over the fence, what is the rulling? I say it is a four base award, they said it is ruled a homerun.

One question I have too. What constitutes an illegal pitch if the U3 or U1 says the pitcher is leaping? Both feet off of the ground at the same time is my understanding. Do these umpires get graded on how many of those they call? I think it could probably be called on just about every pitch.

I look forward to your response.

[topper]

Thanks for clarifying what you called "mistakes". It looks like you're mostly correct.

#1 – You’re right that INT, except for umpire INT, is a dead ball, not a delayed dead ball. For runner’s INT, the runner is out and any other runners return to the last base occupied at the time of the INT. If the fielder didn’t have an opportunity to make a play (defined as “An attempt by a defensive player on a batted or thrown ball to retire a runner or a batter-runner.”), there is no INT. Also by NCAA rule, contact is required for INT unless the runner unnecessarily waves her arms or verbally distracts the fielder.

#2 – There could be a couple issues here depending on where the base umpires were. If both were on the line, the PU should go to the “open” umpire (U3 here). If not, he/she should go to the umpire one the line. If the PU incorrectly went to U1, he/she should simply have pointed to U3 for the call. Now if U1 makes a call, we are instructed not to go to the correct umpire and take the first answer and move on. I’m not sure I completely agree with this, but it is the prescribed mechanic as of now.

#3 – Wide strike zones are a huge problem IMO. Being consistently wide doesn’t make it any better either. The fact is, if you call an accurate zone, you will have a consistent zone.

#4 – I’ll just quote the NCAA rule book:
12.3.3.5 When a fair batted ball deflects off a fence and then off a fielder before going over the home-run fence.
EFFECT—The ball is dead. The batter is awarded second base and is credited with a two-base hit (double). Each other base runner is awarded two bases from the base legally occupied
at the time of the pitch.
12.3.5.1 When a fair batted fly ball strikes the foul pole above the fence level or leaves the playing field in fair territory without being caught, touching the ground or going through the fence even if the ball is deflected by a fielder.

As for your question -
Rule 10.4.4 says: “The pitcher may not become airborne on the initial drive from the pitcher’s plate. The pivot foot must slide/drag on the ground.” Pretty straight forward right?
Now, Rule 2.20 says: “the top of the plate shall be level with the ground surface.”
So the question is: If a pitcher is not dragging the ground but still not above the pitcher’s plate because the top is not flush with the ground, is the pitcher illegal, the field illegal, or both? This is something some of us have been discussing for a while now. Personally, I would like to see the leap gone from the rule book.

Umpires attending these camps range from those new to the college game to those who have worked NCAA post-season assignments. Some come to learn and see where they are in their training and some come to be evaluated for possible assignment to a conference crew or post-season. Some may be “in over their head”. That’s why these are held in the Fall and not the Spring

[AE27]

Thanks Topper.

I am sure you have helped more than just me to understand more clearly some of the many, many rules there are to know. Worst part about the homerun thing is that several of the evaluators were asked and answered incorrectly.

On the HPB, both field umpires were on their respective lines.