Clay vs. Ashland Crestview Wed., May 28 - 5:00 p.m.

[mattash]

Good luck Clay

[sports_fanatic_08]

Who do you think will or should win??

[coachperWHS]

I read a report on another site....

Clay lost in 11 innings to Crestview 2-1.

Tough loss for Clay...but a good season nevertheless.

[ManitouDan]

can some one that was at the game comment on the play that ended the game ---had to be controversial, runner interference called for the last out as the tying run scored. The way the PDT reported it the runner at 1st who was thrown out interferred with the throw home ? Was it a reasonable call ? MD

[upi34]

Hard to truly say as everyone was watching the play at home...the runner was thrown out at first and was to the right of the first base line...not a close play at first in the least...the player scored the tying run as the home plate umpire called her safe because the catcher dropped the ball...the coaches from Ashland came out to appeal that the scoring player at home did not slide and should have...the home plate umpire asked the Ashland coaches to step back so the umpire staff could discuss their request...seemingly to discuss the play at home and the appeal of the no slide determination...after a few minutes, the first base umpire came over to Coach Ruby and told her the runner going to first had raised her arms...this required him to call obstruction and by rule he had to call out the nearest runner to home plate which was the tying run that just scored...game over...the second baseman had fielded the ball and threw to first base who immediately without hesitation threw home cleanly...the ball actually beat the runner to home plate and had the catcher not dropped it I believe she would have been called out...never seen anything like it...

[ManitouDan]

So maybe if Groves had slid, the umpires might not have conferenced , or huddled up ??? There is no "slide rule " in HS is there ?? What a terrible way to end your season. MD

[SENDEM]

There is no slide rule in High School. U must avoid contact. An if there was an obstruction call on the runner going to 1st then the runner going to 1st is out an the runner going home SHOULD be sent back to 3rd not called out. If iam reading my rule book right. But the game is over an CONGRADS to the Lady Panthers on a very good season an another trip to the Regionals.

[sports_fanatic_08]

ok, i was there, so i know what happened

There is one out and Clay is down by 1 in the bottom of the 11th .#15 Cami Groves is up to bat. She hits a line drive between center and right field. She ends up on second. Up next in the lineup is #23 Kristen Adams. The pitcher sends a wild pitch, and Cami steals third. Then Adams hits the ball to third, where she is thrown out at first.When she was thrown out at first, she threw her arms up in the air with dissapointment. As the third baseman was throwing it to first, Groves is taking home. The throw was made back to home, but the catcher dropped it. Groves didn't slide.....but that wasnt the call that was made.

The call was that Adams threw her arms in the air, trying to block the view of the first baseman, which wasn't the case at all because she wasn't in the way, and they got the throw there sucessfully,but the catcher dropped it.
When that is called (interfearence), the lead runner is called out, along with the play at first, so that made three outs........it was very confusing, and half of the fans and players had NO CLUE what was going on.

It was a VERY tough loss, and a lot of girls took it hard, as you could tell after the game...but there were two good teams playing that day, and im not sure who SHOULD have won...

[ManitouDan]

so the key action in this scenario is the actions of the BR as she approached 1st -- If she did wave or throw her arms up BEFORE crossing the bag, therefore the obs call would be correct , but if she had already crossed 1st and made some gesture I don't see how that could be ruled obs. What exactly did she do ? MD

[upi34]

Again, watching the play and having watched a lot of softball...I saw nothing inappropriate...the integrity of the play was not affected in any way...the first baseman caught the ball and immediately threw home...she made a strong and accurate throw...Cami Groves slid in home but it was a late slide and not the "best" slide...but the home plate umpire was already shaking her head no at the Ashland coaches approaching her verbalizing Groves had not slid...

It was an empty way to finish...decided not by the kids between the lines who had fought for 11 innings...it was truly a battle up to that point and then decided on this vague call...a tough one to take...wish the girls could have played on and decided the outcome on their own

[ManitouDan]

that an absurd way to lose a closely contested contest ---If Coach Ruby did'nt throw the biggest fit in the world I'd be shocked. Is there any way a protest could have been filed ---for incorrect interpretation of the rules ? I don't know high school rules , Is there any way a call can be reversed if the home ump (I guess the "crew chief" ) and the base ump blew the call ? It just stinks that such a close game was decided by blue. I can't imagine a girl hustling to 1st would wave her arms before she reached the bag , unless she was threw out by so many steps she had time to obstruct. MD

PS unless the runner (Groves) made contact with the catcher it is a non issue whether she slide or not, or slide pretty or slide ugly , there is no slide rule. MD

[RoadMan]

I too was there. It appeared that the runner threw her hands up prior to reaching first base when the first baseman turned to throw to the plate. The first base umpire immediately raised his arms to signify the ball was dead and ran straight down the line toward the plate umpire. It looked like the batter/runner was directly in line with the first baseman and catcher when she did so. Was she celebrating/interfering, only one person knows that, and she was called out at first on the play.

Upon a short conference of umpires, they all three went directly to Coach Ruby and proceeded to tell her what was going on (I could not hear them, only guessing), as then Coach Ruby appeared to be a little "bothered" by the call. The home plate umpire then returned to the plate area, signaled that there was interference called on the batter/runner which in turn meant that he runner from third would be called out.

[3sportSeason]

If she threw her hands up before crossing the bag then it is interference no matter if she was still able to throw the ball to home. It is the fact she threw her hands up and therefore could have blocked the vision of the first baseman even for a split second. That is just like a player sliding into second to try and break up a DP and throwing their hands up, even though they are not in the throwers face it is still interference on the runner and the both would be called out. So in actually they got the call right, even though the meeting was over a slide not being taken. For Clay this has to be a disappointing year with making it to state last year with pretty much the entire team back and a year older.

[BeAWarrior]

I may have a biased opinion, or not...considering I am a panther fan. It did appear that Adams threw her hands up trying to affect the throw to the plate.

The play is over, and the game aswell...The point of the matter is...Both teams had many other oppertunities to win this game, and neither did. If Groves would have scored...the game is still tied, and who is to say what would have happened after that.

[upi34]

Yes...the game would have been tied but would have continued to be decided amongst the teams involved...a more satisfying ending either way...win or lose...

[softball fan]

Has anyone heard the results of the Symmes Valley/Danville game?

[upi34]

Huddle says Danville wins but don't have a score yet...

[Spring_Fever]

Tough loss for the Panthers...Hard way for the season to end -- wish the ump would have let the girls decide the outcome...but also wish the Panthers could have taken advantage of some opportunities.

Great season ladies...SOC champs and a trip to the regionals...you played tough against a lot of great teams...Good luck to the seniors I know you will find success -- and keep working underclassmen the 09' season is right around the corner...

[BlindWhiteHat]

What is odd is how there are conflicting "eye witness" reports. One says the runner didn't slide at home while another said the runner did slide but it was late.

If the runner going to first raised her arms, that is interference and the runner heading home should have been called out. Sounds like the umpires got it right. It's sad to see someone write that it's a shame to have the game decided by the umpires when actually it was decided by the actions of the players.

[PopCorn]

Didn't see the Clay/Crestview game but the way it ended had to be a hard call to accept for the Clay team. I do know that had Clay played Danville who we played (or attempted to) that Clay would have stopped them in their tracks. SV ladies played terrible defense. Offense was sporadic at best. Sometimes the state champions are not the best but the luckiest! Danville was good, not to take away from their talent. But they were not in the same league with Clay.

SOC I think still has the best talent of any in their division in the state.