Routine or very good catch, doesnt really matter, lost opportunity for an out. The game of baseball is played on outs allowed. In HS 7 inn a typical game is 21 outs. Anymore and it spells trouble especially when these types of games are played. If it touched the end of his glove as you suggest then it should be caught, just like in football if the ball touches the receivers fingers then it should be caught. JMO and I am certain the same opinion of the HHS coaches.

Either way great win for the Bellevue program and the matchup of two much, much smaller programs in Bell and Npt. Good luck to both teams in the Region.

 

The "if you touch it it should be caught" mantra is pure myth.

 

I can tell you that the coaches didn't feel it was a ball that "should" have been caught. "Could?" Yes. However, it was a challenging play. My guess is the kid himself thinks its a ball he should have caught but that's baseball.

On the play where the runner on 2nd was trying to score on a bunt late in the game did the Bellevue pitcher seem to be confused for a second when the runner scored? Did it seem like he thought that run was the winning run before he ultimately got the next runner out?

Highlands ran the runner from second to home on the suicide twice in this game. On the one referred to in the seventh inning, Young (pitcher) did momentarily look to first and then turned to make the play at home. BTW they made the out both times at home.......taking advantage of the Birds attempt at aggressive running.

 

I personally didn't like the move to put Liggett on the mound simply because he does not pitch often and although he is a hard thrower, he doesn't possess good mound presence. This was evidenced on the play to first........when the first baseman commits to the ball to his right, the pitcher has to break on the ball hit to the right side. Secondly, I thought Mason was throwing fine and wasn't in trouble despite Buckler's double. Coach Baoni took a risk ,against conventional wisdom, by walking Hegge to put the winning run in position. The irony to that of course was likely that part of his reasoning was the first & third base runners scenario would cause a steal of second/home anyway so he would just set the force out........with Liggett still behind the plate, that is not a concern.

 

Regardless, Bellevue rose from the ashes with some great at bats (the last three hitters had two strikes & two outs when they hit the ball)........thus the proverbial, "it ain't over til it's over" !

 

Congratulations to the Tigers who earned the District championship.......good luck at Regionals.

For the Birds, Coach B. is doing the right things to build his program......his seniors this year were a good group, hopefully in the future its eight instead of four. I'm sure he learned a lot from this season and particularly this game....time to move on and keep building his program. Good luck to him as well.

:banana::thumb:I just want to say congrats to the Birds on a great season. They played a tough schedule and have set the ground work for a very bright future.

The "if you touch it it should be caught" mantra is pure myth.

 

I can tell you that the coaches didn't feel it was a ball that "should" have been caught. "Could?" Yes. However, it was a challenging play. My guess is the kid himself thinks its a ball he should have caught but that's baseball.

 

Reallllly? Well, we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

It was 1983, Bellevue's Steve Hatch hit a 2 run home run in the bottom of the 7th inning to beat then #2 New Cath 3-2. Bellevue then played Newport in the Championship (Tarvin vs. Stamm).

 

Tarvin was either a Frosh or Soph that year, but had a very productive next 2 years at Bellevue who I think was back in the Regions those years.

 

Tarvin was a soph that year and he ended up beating a very good Cov Cath team also his Sr year down at Newport Stadium in the Regionals if I am not mistaken. Bellevue had some good teams during the early to mid 80's. I remember watching Tarvin battle Steve Ahlers who both threw close to 90mph and it was a 1-0 win for Tarvin down at the Bellevue Vets.

Reallllly? Well, we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

Guess it depends on which coach you talk to.

The "if you touch it it should be caught" mantra is pure myth.

 

I can tell you that the coaches didn't feel it was a ball that "should" have been caught. "Could?" Yes. However, it was a challenging play. My guess is the kid himself thinks its a ball he should have caught but that's baseball.

 

I'll go with Sweep on this one. We always heard in football from a pretty good coach that if you can touch it, catch it.(well, maybe not me in particular) but that's what my brudders tell me anyway. Maybe that is where the best separate themselves. Sorry but don't mean to offend, but you have to make the plays. I'm sure the game wasn't really decided on this play alone.

Im sure the kid feels bad enough about not making the catch. It obviously wasnt meant to be for Coach B's Birds that day.