I would like to hear what the umpires explanation was to Johnson Centrals coach. Which umpire was so sure he saw it bounce over the fence

Doesn't look like she is standing on the fence to me; looks like she is in mid-air making a great catch. Yes, the fence gave way but she does not appear to have touched the ground prior to making the catch.

 

If the fielder makes a catch and flips over a stationary fence, it does not matter where her body is when she catches the ball as long as she makes the catch before touching the ground; it is still a catch. She is not out-of-play until she touches dead ball territory.

 

I say that this sweet picture proves that it was a catch and a great one at that.

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Wait I thought it was obvious that the fence was down?!? (Sarcasm) lol

Doesn't look like she is standing on the fence to me; looks like she is in mid-air making a great catch. Yes, the fence gave way but she does not appear to have touched the ground prior to making the catch.

 

If the fielder makes a catch and flips over a stationary fence, it does not matter where her body is when she catches the ball as long as she makes the catch before touching the ground; it is still a catch. She is not out-of-play until she touches dead ball territory.

 

I say that this sweet picture proves that it was a catch and a great one at that.

 

The only thing I say it doesn't prove is if she knocked the fence over prior to jumping.. With her bottom foot through the fence it makes me think she stepped through the fence and jumped. Just another idea.

 

No doubt about it, still and awesome catch and an awesome picture.

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She is lucky she did not break her left leg.

Her foot is through the fence, knee on the fence as the ball goes into her glove.

Because of the blur from the lens/camera dof, it's hard to say for certain that the top of the fence is ON the ground or about to hit the ground.

The picture (on my screen) cuts off on the right so I can't see if her foot is on the ground or not.

 

Since her foot is through the fence, based on how she is falling, you would think that happened 2 ways.

a) her foot when through it in full stride running after the ball. If that's the case, her foot would have touched the ground as part of that last stride before before the fall/jump to get the ball.

b) if it was not part of the stride, her foot went through it after the fence had been knocked down, which would put her beyond the fence line

 

Her arm being out... Is that what knocked the fence over or is that to brace against hitting the ground.

 

If it were a permanent fence, would she have caught it?

I think NO.

Why?

Two thoughts...

1) If the fence did not get out of her way, she would not be able to be outstretched and that low to the ground to be able to catch it where she did.

2) If it were a permanent fence, given 1, she would have had to catch it by jumping at a point where the ball was still in play. Speculating, but it would appear the the balls trajectory and her path tracking the ball would not have intersected at a point to make a catch. (Full disclosure: I got a C in geometry when I took it 20yrs ago)

 

It is still an incredible catch, awesome athletic effort by Ms Slone, and a really sweet picture.

I'm curious if there are any Ashland fans on here. I was wondering their take on all of this.

I can't even imagine how those young ladies from Johnson Central must have felt after that game. Especially that young lady that would of had that memory for the rest of her life! Whether they won or lost in the next game to have a walk off home run vs the #1 pitcher in the state with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th in an elimination game at the state tournament. What a great story for generations it would of been!

 

Almost all the discussion has been on the umpires and yes I would love to of heard that discussion! Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done except hope you never get one of those guys as an umpire.

 

There has been some discussion about the real problem and that is the playing conditions! Obviously the temporary fencing is the problem that occurred in the Johnson Central vs Ashland Game.

 

Somebody mentioned the old timers have dealt with this for years. I am a first timer and hopefully not a last timer because the excitement and energy level in a tournament environment is awesome! If it has been going on for years has anybody tried to change it?

 

The fact the state championship has the girls playing on a surface not designed for the game of Fast Pitch is BULL! The dirt infield extending out to 115-120 feet is dumb since they normally play on much smaller infields! A temporary fence for a homerun fence is a joke! Most high schools try to avoid both of these things on there home fields! Unfortunately we had temporary fencing at our home field for years. Hard Hit Balls would go right through it. I have seen girls run through it and the tubing break and create jagged edges that if fallen upon would of been bad.

For the KHSAA to host the state championship tournament and play on fields that are rigged to accommodate the game is something that should remind everyone why Title XI exists.

 

Who thinks it's ok to put the girls on these fields? What could the thought process be:

-we can make more money?

-The school year is over they will forget about it by next year?

-My uncle owns this place in Owensboro!

 

Whatever the reason it is a slap in the face of the girls that dedicate so much time and energy to a game just like other sports.

Her..

 

Right click on the picture and click open in a new tab... That even make it look like an even harder catch to make... That is def worth making it a fat head for her wall... Pretty awesome..

Unless Ashland comes out and publically states the actions of their coach were wrong I'd boycott them in all sports if I'm JC. Umpires made the call, the coach sent the wrong message to his youth.

The umpires need to move a little to get in position to make the right call! No excuse for this injustice no matter what excuses the KHSAA comes up with. Down right sorry job by the umpiring crew! And very poor sportsmanship on the part of the Ashland coach!!!!

Unless Ashland comes out and publically states the actions of their coach were wrong I'd boycott them in all sports if I'm JC. Umpires made the call, the coach sent the wrong message to his youth.

 

I agree! I question the integrity of the Ashland coach! What a loser!

I agree! I question the integrity of the Ashland coach! What a loser!

 

I said something earlier on this thread because I thought those saying that this call caused the championship to be "tarnished" when in fact, neither Ashland nor Johnson Central really had a chance to win the tournament, or really affect who did.

 

Now I feel obligated to disagree with everyone calling for Ashland to criticize or punish their coach. How many of you people have ever told an umpire that the call in favor of your team was wrong and that it should be reversed so the other team could win? I'm sure everyone is going to say "me", but you are all lying if you do. Whether it was a homerun or a pulled foot at first, or a ball that hit a batter on the jersey, bad calls are part of the game and I've never seen a coach tell an umpire "even though that helped our team, it was wrong, reverse it." As a practical matter, an umpire can't do that any way. They are always being told they are wrong. As an umpire, you do your best, and you stick to your call absent your crew mates saying that they saw it better. Relying on the reaction of players is implausible. How many times have you seen a batter toss their bat just to have a stike called? Their reaction was that it was ball four. Is the umpire to assume that the player got it right?

 

The umps got this one wrong. They got plenty of them wrong this tournament. Others cost teams game too. Maybe if JC had got a hit before 2 out in the seventh, they wouldn't have needed this call. No one play costs the team a game, right?

 

The call sucked. I've watched the video. I feel horrible for the kid. But I've felt horrible for alot of kids that have been called out on strikes in the dirt and didn't try to show an umpire video.

 

I think those that are accusing Ashland of doing anything wrong are just flat full of it. The next coach or player I see talk an umpire into changing a call because they saw it different to their detriment will be the first time I've ever seen it. Time to move on.

I think those that are accusing Ashland of doing anything wrong are just flat full of it. The next coach or player I see talk an umpire into changing a call because they saw it different to their detriment will be the first time I've ever seen it. Time to move on.

 

I would agree with your sentiments if the ball had been called a double from the start. I don't think anyone would expect ashland coach to go out and say "no that was a homer".

 

This one was called a home run by 2 umps. 3rd said it bounced and ashland jumped on the bandwagon.

 

I can't say that I have seen a coach go out and take a position as detrimental to their team as this play would have been.

But I have seen coaches nod their head in agreement with a tough call against them, and or signal to their fans that it was the right call.

I have seen coaches go out to argue for the call to be in their favor and back off when they look at the asst coaches and others around, getting their opinion of the play. (or looking to a photographer near by to confirm or refute a call)

The umpires can't directly use crowd consensus or photographic evidence. The coaches can. They adjust their argument or quit arguing based on the other information available to them.

 

We will never know whether the coach ACTUALLY believed he saw it bounce over (making him 1 of 2 out of hundreds that saw it that need their vision checked) or if he seized an opportunity. Based on his deflection of the issue and relating it to a WALK call, I'd say he seized on the opportunity.

Right click on the picture and click open in a new tab... That even make it look like an even harder catch to make... That is def worth making it a fat head for her wall... Pretty awesome..

 

Now that I can see her other foot, I say this picture does prove it was a wrong call, and the temporary fences are an issue.

 

Her left foot is off the ground.

If it is on it's way down to the ground, the fence was already knocked over when she stepped on it.

OR

If the foot is coming off the ground, she knocked the hole in the fence in stride or after it was already on the ground.

 

She could not have physically made this catch if a real fence was in use.