The statement is Bull!!! Playing a state championship at a slow pitch softball field is a slap in the sports face!! Then to go with a cheap fix like a PVC Temporary fencing at a state championship game is a joke. Once again girls softball doesn't have the deep pockets or a loud enough voice to get treated with the respect they deserve!!! Do you think they would play any other high school sport on a field not even designed for the game. The dirt infield extends 55 feet beyond the bases. Isn't there a standard for size of infield?

The statement is Bull!!! Playing a state championship at a slow pitch softball field is a slap in the sports face!! Then to go with a cheap fix like a PVC Temporary fencing at a state championship game is a joke. Once again girls softball doesn't have the deep pockets or a loud enough voice to get treated with the respect they deserve!!! Do you think they would play any other high school sport on a field not even designed for the game. The dirt infield extends 55 feet beyond the bases. Isn't there a standard for size of infield?

 

They would play at a regulation field if not for the format. The format forces them to play at a place where there are multiple fields.

The statement is Bull!!! Playing a state championship at a slow pitch softball field is a slap in the sports face!! Then to go with a cheap fix like a PVC Temporary fencing at a state championship game is a joke. Once again girls softball doesn't have the deep pockets or a loud enough voice to get treated with the respect they deserve!!! Do you think they would play any other high school sport on a field not even designed for the game. The dirt infield extends 55 feet beyond the bases. Isn't there a standard for size of infield?

 

Somebody needs to change something. To go back to Owensboro next season would be the true slap in the face for the girls sport of Fastpitch.

They would play at a regulation field if not for the format. The format forces them to play at a place where there are multiple fields.

 

You are correct Clyde. Having said that with this fiasco the KHSAA should review everything with regards to how this tournament is handled. Feel awful for Johnson Central.

06/06/14 – STATEMENT ON ENDING OF ASHLAND BLAZER-JOHNSON CENTRAL SOFTBALL GAME

 

June 6, 20142013-2014 News Releases

During the 7th inning of game 14 of the Worth/KHSAA State Softball Tournament (a consolation bracket elimination contest) a judgement call was made by the umpiring crew which in hindsight, and upon postgame review by the KHSAA staff, was in error. The situation occurred when Johnson Central’s Rachelle Fairchild hit an apparent game-winning home run, but following a brief conference, the crew of officials declared that the hit was a ground rule double instead of the game-winning home run.

“Following today’s game between Ashland Blazer and Johnson Central, KHSAA staff reviewed news footage of the at-bat which was ruled a ground rule double in the seventh inning. With the benefit of slow motion, high definition video, it is clear that the ball left the park on the fly, and a home run should have been ruled,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Unfortunately, our umpires don’t have technical access to slow motion, high definition video during a contest (or any other type of video), nor are they permitted within the bylaws or playing rules to review these situations; and left to the judgement of the naked eye, they clearly erred.”

“While NFHS playing rules do not permit the review of video, I felt it important to make a determination so as to help identify areas of emphasis for training in the future, ” noted Darren Bilberry, KHSAA Assistant Commissioner with primary responsibility for softball. “Under both the NFHS playing rules, and KHSAA Bylaw 21, protests or appeals of judgement calls are not permitted once the contest has ended, and the judgement of the official, right or wrong, must prevail. On review, clearly the ball left the park, and a fielder attempting to make a play then displaced the fence afterwards. The fence was not a factor in the play, it was simply an error in judgement.”

“Assessments and evaluations of the officiating crews are made following each set of games at the state tournament, and the official’s involved in the Ashland Blazer-Johnson Central game were not retained to officiate additional games,” added Bilberry. “In reviewing the play in question, we felt that had they properly rotated per the NFHS three-person coverage, they would have been in better position to be able to accurately make the correct call.”

“At the amateur level, there is always an element of human judgement and performance, whether that’s a coach in his/her decision about playing time or strategy, player execution of game strategy and coach directives, or the judgement of an official. Interestingly, I had a conversation with a couple of individuals before leaving the park about a coach’s decision to pitch to a very good hitter earlier in the tournament in a situation that resulted in that player getting a game-winning hit. The human element simply can never be removed from amateur sports. We put a great deal of time, energy and resources into recruiting and training the independent contractors that serve as umpires and other officials, in an effort to help make them consistent and allow for their advancement and expansion of knowledge. In addition, our staff and hundreds of workers and volunteers devote countless hours and resources to making the participation experience optimum for all players, coaches, officials and fans. It is a shame that some of the participant’s memories of this unique experience may be permanently marred by this incident. We will continue to strive to help our officials improve to help the participation experience of the students, ” Tackett concluded.

 

.....and all is right in the world after reading this. Why do they have to have so much "incessant babbling" in their explanation? :no:

.....and all is right in the world after reading this. Why do they have to have so much "incessant babbling" in their explanation? :no:

 

They hope you nod off after the second sentence.

 

Jay Carney from the White House should have delivered this memo.

They hope you nod off after the second sentence.

 

Jay Carney from the White House should have delivered this memo.

 

:laugh:

I was there and saw the entire interaction between KHSAA official and camerman. First the cameraman was trying to show the umpire the footage. The KHSAA official told him to get in the media box or leave the field!!

 

Then after the coach from Johnson City was thrown out of the game after 30 minutes. The camerman was interviewing the coach and the KHSAA official came up and told him the coach had to leave the park and asked him for the footage. It was my opinion that he wanted it because everyone was saying it's going to be on the news tonight and it is going to be BAD! The camerman explained it's not even his video.

 

Then there was a lady official walking around with 2 policemen wanting increased presence in the parking lot!!

 

The bad part was it was obvious. The Highlands girls were warming up out beyond fence and it almost hit meat puppy.

They hope you nod off after the second sentence.

 

:lol2::lol2:

They would play at a regulation field if not for the format. The format forces them to play at a place where there are multiple fields.

 

Then the format needs to be changed. Why are we playing a double elimination tournament anyways? Districts and regionals are not set up this way. The state tournament should be 1 and out.

 

Also, due to giving baseball pitchers days off and etc, I think it is pretty pathetic that the boy's state tournament is 1 and done and their tournament has lasted all week, why not do it for the girls? It doesn't have to last all week but dang show some respect to the girls and put them on fields that are at least made for fast pitch. Embarrassing for the khsaa not to show respect to the sport.

I hope the Johnson Central girl at least gets tourney MVP. Least the teams could do.

They would play at a regulation field if not for the format. The format forces them to play at a place where there are multiple fields.

 

NewCath, Newport, and Highlands can host this thing. :ylsuper:

 

NewCath and Newport fields are opposite one another at the same complex with permanent 200 foot fences, and the state of the art, "Bird Cage", is only 5 minutes away. Although parking might be an issue.

BTW, the softball thread hasn't seen this kind of viewing in some time. :lol:

There was a photographer in the media box with me when HHS played Ashland the following game.

He was covering Ashland for a local paper down there or something.

He said that it was clearly a homerun.

"There was only 1 person in this ball park that thought it wasn't a home run. Unfortunately, it was the person that gets to make the call."

 

Like everyone else, I feel bad for that girl and her team.

HOWEVER, a month from now... 2 weeks from now... Heck 1 week from now, is anyone going to be talking about the homer that did end Ashland?

NOPE. *Other than the possible joke about it ending that way anyway.

BUT... Everyone will remember and talk about this girls home run that got stolen from her...

 

Wonder if we'll ever hear anything about it from the Ashland coach?

NewCath, Newport, and Highlands can host this thing. :ylsuper:

 

NewCath and Newport fields are opposite one another at the same complex with permanent 200 foot fences, and the state of the art, "Bird Cage", is only 5 minutes away. Although parking might be an issue.

 

Add NKU and you have 4 fields all within minutes of each other.

 

You'd think there would be a couple of other areas with similar situations (multiple fields/venues within 10-15 minutes of each other). Maybe somewhere in Louisville?