... Okay, I going to say this and you all know that all year long I have been on Blues side but tonight from my seat the HP Blue was calling a strike that looked to me to be wide all night long. Now I have no problem with it at all, as he was consistently calling that pitch on both teams a strike until Elkus came to bat with two outs and men on 2nd and 3rd with the score tied and two outs. ...

 

You infer that the ump should have called the last (outside) pitch a strike against Elkus. I thought the bad calls tended to benefit Beechwood most of the game, as they were missing the zone more often, throwing 25 more pitches and hitting 3 batters. In the first inning Elkus was the victim of one of those obviously bad calls, and he subsequently swang at bad pitches until the last inning when he regained his discipline and drew a big walk. Apropo.

 

What a game! Both teams were fantastic and displayed good on-the-field sportsmanship. I walked away proud to be a Dixie fan.

 

Tongue in cheek - stats for this thread thus far show 12 comments from Guru and TOG about irrelevant sideshow crap. Today I am embarrassed to be a Bluegrasspreps fan.

Congratulations to Mr. Combs will have much to think about all summer long. Not only a great Pitching outing, but topped it off with a Walk-off HR. They have a whale of a game tonight, but he will get to remember that shot for a long time. How many times do you think he has played out that scenario in the backyard. I did it, my sons do it and I'm sure almost every ball player has done it. He got to live it out for real. what a great night for him. His first High School HR is a Walk-off Grand Slam in the Regional Tourney. Man, even as a BW fan, it makes me smile just thinking about it.

 

Oops, I got messed up with the two Combs names. I was just talking to someone about how well Niehaus pitched so I'm not sure how I got them confused. Nevertheless, great day for Combs at the plate. My apologies to Niehaus

Agree, I thought it was a bad call, but I was on 1st base side. After speaking with Beechwood fans that were directly behind Home Plate, they said that it was indeed a bit wide and had been called a BALL ALL Night Long. In short, good CALL. Even it was a Strike, you can't argue with consistency.

 

I just asked because I had a view directly behind home plate. Was the pitch outside? Yes. Did the ump call outside strikes all night? Yes. Do I think ball 4 to Elkus was a little more outside than the outside strike all night? Yes.

 

On a side note (and TOG can confirm), it seems that this tournament the umps have given a few inches off the outside corner in just about every game. Some have been near the other batter's box line.

 

You infer that the ump should have called the last (outside) pitch a strike against Elkus. I thought the bad calls tended to benefit Beechwood most of the game, as they were missing the zone more often, throwing 25 more pitches and hitting 3 batters. In the first inning Elkus was the victim of one of those obviously bad calls, and he subsequently swang at bad pitches until the last inning when he regained his discipline and drew a big walk. Apropo. First base was open and Stringer was probably pitching around him, but he didn't take the bait. In my opinion that was key to Combs getting a pitch to hit; and boy did he hit it!

 

What a game! Both teams were fantastic and displayed good on-the-field sportsmanship. I walked away proud to be a Dixie fan.

 

Tongue in cheek - stats for this thread thus far show 12 comments from Guru and TOG about irrelevant sideshow crap. Today I am embarrassed to be a Bluegrasspreps fan.

 

I wouldn't say that Beechwood benefited more from the calls. The ump was pretty darn consistent all night. Combs was able to hit that outside corner a bit more giving the appearance that Beechwood was getting the calls.

 

Side note, on the batter's interference call on Elkus, did anyone see the catcher attempt a throw at all?

Oops, I got messed up with the two Combs names. I was just talking to someone about how well Niehaus pitched so I'm not sure how I got them confused. Nevertheless, great day for Combs at the plate. My apologies to Niehaus

 

Combs did have a great pitching outing, on Monday Monday he picked up a CG W and had the walkoff GS last night.

 

But yes, great job by Nick. He did not let Suchanek's early HR faze him. He settled down and went about his business.

... I wouldn't say that Beechwood benefited more from the calls. The ump was pretty darn consistent all night. Combs was able to hit that outside corner a bit more giving the appearance that Beechwood was getting the calls.

 

Side note, on the batter's interference call on Elkus, did anyone see the catcher attempt a throw at all?

 

I think we agree. I am not saying the ump favored Beechwood. I am suggesting that Beechwood put the ball in those spots way more often. Niehaus was efficient and more "in-the-(real)-zone". The benefit was that Dixie had to swing at those pitches because the ump was calling them. Hard to hit the outside pitch off the plate.

 

I was very confused about the batter interference call. No real attempt to throw, and I thought the batter (Elkus I think) stayed in his box.

If you would like the real story....and a lesson in enthusiastic baseball.......take a moment and speak to Dixie's Bench Coach...Mr. Pete Collins.....

 

He will tell you what happened, who, and why.........You will also come away smarter, humbler and a better baseball fan from the interaction....

It was the 2-2 curve ball that was perfect that the umpire as well as batter got fooled. He can not pitch him any better than he did. 2 high fastballs after an 0-2 count followed by the curve ball that was strike 3 and not called. This game should have went to the eighth, although that homerun was a great way to end a great ballgame

 

 

Again, this is a TEAM! I thought for sure they would walk Caple in the 7th. When they didn't, I really liked our chances to win! He blisters a ball into right-center. Elkus shows complete discipline too lay off of a high 3-2 pitch. What can I say about the shot that G$ hit! First home run in school ball came at a pretty opportune time! But again, none of this happens of Nick Niehaus doesn't grind out the last 4 innings, not giving up a run to the potent Beechwood offense!

Front Row to the left of home plate

I think we agree. I am not saying the ump favored Beechwood. I am suggesting that Beechwood put the ball in those spots way more often. Niehaus was efficient and more "in-the-(real)-zone". The benefit was that Dixie had to swing at those pitches because the ump was calling them. Hard to hit the outside pitch off the plate.

 

I was very confused about the batter interference call. No real attempt to throw, and I thought the batter (Elkus I think) stayed in his box.

 

My apologies then. Sounded like you were saying Dixie got hosed on some calls but glad to see we saw the game the same way. Combs took what the umpire was giving while Niehaus pitched like he has all year. :thumb:

 

And Elk was definitely out of the box in front of the plate but I too did not see an attempt to throw, which I thought was required. I could be wrong though. Wouldn't be the first nor the last time.

 

If you would like the real story....and a lesson in enthusiastic baseball.......take a moment and speak to Dixie's Bench Coach...Mr. Pete Collins.....

 

He will tell you what happened, who, and why.........You will also come away smarter, humbler and a better baseball fan from the interaction....

 

Peter is an absolute BLAST to be around. One of the really good guys. Although we may need to put a leash on him. HAH

 

Front Row to the left of home plate

 

Not sure how far left of home you were but I will say from my personal experiences, any time you are on the side looking in, pitches may appear to be strikes that are really balls and vice versa. Since I have seen you are referring to the 2-2 curve, if my memory serves be correctly (and if I'm thinking of the right pitch as there were a few curves that fans disagreed with last night), from behind home plate that pitch appeared to stay in on Elk and broke around the plate ending on the inside corner when caught.

I was right behind home plate lined up over the right shoulder of the umpire. The curve on the outside corner by Stringer to Elkus looked to be a hair outside the umpire's zone to me. If he called it a strike, I wouldn't have been shocked but it looked outside his zone to me. I thought it was a great pitch, right where it needed to be and you just tip your hat to Elkus for not swinging at it. Stringer pitched Elkus there better than any batter that inning. The sequence was great and the location of each pitch was very good. If he could have brought one of the two high, outside corner fastballs down just a little or even caught the top of the strike zone, he may have got Elkus. Bottom line, I don't think the ump missed any calls there. Nice job by Stringer not giving in with first base open and great discipline by Elkus in not going for the edge of the zone pitches.

 

Overall, I thought the home plate umpire in this game was solid all night. I don't think he favored either team. Yes, he was calling the pitch just off the outside corner but he was calling it that way all night. As long as he stays consistent, you can't complain. Figure out where the zone is and play to it. Beechwood's Combs firgured that out and once he settled down after that first inning, he did a great job using his fastball on that outside corner with a little come back action on it.

 

On a side note, if you want to complain about an umpire calling the outside strike, the guy behind the plate in Beechwood's first round game versus Boone Co. was bad. He was calling strikes on pitches in the other batter's box - on both teams. Those pitches are unhittable. You can't call strikes on pitches that are unhittable. Then the last two innings the guy was all over the place so no one knew what to expect. That was some bad home plate umpiring. The guy in the Dixie Beechwood game - no complaints and I am a Beechwood fan.

 

On second guessing about Suchanek coming in instead of Stringer, two things. One, was Suchanek even eligible to pitch? He threw 3 innings on Monday. I don't think he could pitch again till Thursday. Two, if he was eligible to pitch, why change what has worked all year? Stringer has been the closer. He really pitched well outside of hitting Daria on the breaking ball that slipped out of his hand inside. Beyond that, Dixie just got the better of him.

 

On those making comments about The Old Guy, move on. His posts in this thread have been great. Anyone knocking his posts here is off target.

 

All the other non game stuff, who cares? It was a great game, played very clean by both teams. You have to be impressed with two teams as young as these two playing the game the way they did. Congratulations to Dixie. Beechwood will be looking forward to payback next year.

I was right behind home plate lined up over the right shoulder of the umpire. The curve on the outside corner by Stringer to Elkus looked to be a hair outside the umpire's zone to me. If he called it a strike, I wouldn't have been shocked but it looked outside his zone to me. I thought it was a great pitch, right where it needed to be and you just tip your hat to Elkus for not swinging at it. Stringer pitched Elkus there better than any batter that inning. The sequence was great and the location of each pitch was very good. If he could have brought one of the two high, outside corner fastballs down just a little or even caught the top of the strike zone, he may have got Elkus. Bottom line, I don't think the ump missed any calls there. Nice job by Stringer not giving in with first base open and great discipline by Elkus in not going for the edge of the zone pitches.

 

Overall, I thought the home plate umpire in this game was solid all night. I don't think he favored either team. Yes, he was calling the pitch just off the outside corner but he was calling it that way all night. As long as he stays consistent, you can't complain. Figure out where the zone is and play to it. Beechwood's Combs firgured that out and once he settled down after that first inning, he did a great job using his fastball on that outside corner with a little come back action on it.

 

On a side note, if you want to complain about an umpire calling the outside strike, the guy behind the plate in Beechwood's first round game versus Boone Co. was bad. He was calling strikes on pitches in the other batter's box - on both teams. Those pitches are unhittable. You can't call strikes on pitches that are unhittable. Then the last two innings the guy was all over the place so no one knew what to expect. That was some bad home plate umpiring. The guy in the Dixie Beechwood game - no complaints and I am a Beechwood fan.

 

On second guessing about Suchanek coming in instead of Stringer, two things. One, was Suchanek even eligible to pitch? He threw 3 innings on Monday. I don't think he could pitch again till Thursday. Two, if he was eligible to pitch, why change what has worked all year? Stringer has been the closer. He really pitched well outside of hitting Daria on the breaking ball that slipped out of his hand inside. Beyond that, Dixie just got the better of him.

 

On those making comments about The Old Guy, move on. His posts in this thread have been great. Anyone knocking his posts here is off target.

 

All the other non game stuff, who cares? It was a great game, played very clean by both teams. You have to be impressed with two teams as young as these two playing the game the way they did. Congratulations to Dixie. Beechwood will be looking forward to payback next year.

 

Suchanek was eligible. Since he only threw 3 innings he was only required 1 day of rest (Tuesday). With that being said he also threw 68 pitches (or somewhere around there) in those 3 innings on Monday so that could have been a factor.

Great post EOT. Seems like the reasonable BW fans have no issue with the balls and strikes calls. I definitely agree that Stringer did a good job and I doubt any other pitcher could have done better. My only question would have been the coaching decision Not to IW Caple. Of course it's all Monday morning QBing and we are all coaching geniuses up in the stands.

 

I would swear that VOR and Eye of the Tiger are related. Great writing ability that I am very jealous of. Don't always agree, but always great reading.

Suchanek was eligible. Since he only threw 3 innings he was only required 1 day of rest (Tuesday). With that being said he also threw 68 pitches (or somewhere around there) in those 3 innings on Monday so that could have been a factor.

 

What are the rules on pitching eligibility?

What are the rules on pitching eligibility?

 

1-2 IP: 0 days rest

3-5 IP: 1 day rest

6 IP: 2 days rest

7-9 IP: 3 days rest

 

Max of 9IP in a day and no more than 15IP in a 7 day period.

1-2 IP: 0 days rest

3-5 IP: 1 day rest

6 IP: 2 days rest

7-9 IP: 3 days rest

 

Max of 9IP in a day and no more than 15IP in a 7 day period.

 

How many innings did Combs pitch for Dixie on Monday? Is he eligible for tonight's title game? If yes, will he start for Dixie?