el gato

I absolutely hate that this happened to JC and more importantly to this girl. I am happy however that something has happened to bring to light what I feel has been a huge problem for years. The way the KHSAA crams this tournament into 48 hours on four fields not suited for fastpitch softball while having the baseball tournament at a first class facility over six days is a slap in the face to the sport. And for the KHSAA to put out a statement saying that the field/tempory fence played no factor in the erroneous call is just plain wrong. When a ball goes over a 6' permanent fence, there's no question between a HR and a ground rule double. I would love to see the state tournament played on a college field, but it would require a change in format. The current 16 team double elimination format requires too many games to be played on a single field. That's why the state tournament is played at parks with four fields. I wouldn't mind seeing high school mimick the college setup with region winners meeting in a best 2 of 3 series (super regional) with eight teams advancing to the state tournament, played like the college World Series. Getting to the state tournament should be a special experience. The current format gives you the feeling...."let's hurry up and get this thing over with". That's not what a state tournament experience should feel like.

It was reported on Twitter that an announcement would be made today at 5:00.

Wow, from borderline legendary former college coach that takes you to the Sweet 16, to an accomplished high school coach that goes 29-3, to a young assistant with zero head coaching experience all in a 3 year span? This whole situation is a head scratcher.

Bourbon does not play the favorite's role well. Three straight years.

Runner at second, both corners charged, SS went to cover third, second baseman went to cover first, ball was bunted hard past/between pitcher and first baseman, runner never slowed down rounding first as no one was covering 2B.

I'd say two base error at a minimum. I've seen a legit bunt double in softball but can't possibly fathom a bunt home run.

She came back late in the year, pitched against GRC in district.

Unless they are doing it differently this year, the awards won't be given out until all-star weekend, but the all-state teams will be announced to media right after the state tournament.

I agree with this prediction, and if so, would be at least the 12th time in last 17 years we've had an all 40th district final. Would also mean the 10th region champ has come from the 40th district 17 times in the 20 year history of fastpitch. Only exceptions being Harrison in 1995, Brossart in 2002, and Nicholas in 2012.

I would love to see the state tournament played on a college field, but it would require a change in format. The current 16 team double elimination format requires too many games to be played on a single field. That's why the state tournament is played at parks with four fields. I wouldn't mind seeing high school mimick the college setup with region winners meeting in a best 2 of 3 series (super regional) with eight teams advancing to the state tournament, played like the college World Series.

Opening Round 1 - Hopkinsville 1 - Trinity 1 - Scott Co. 1 - Johnson Central 1 - Wayne Co. 1 - Knott Co. Central 1 - PRP 1 - Cov Cath Quarter-finals 2 - Hopkinsville 2 - Scott Co. 2 - Wayne Co. 2 - Cov Cath Semi-finals 3 - Scott Co. 3 - Wayne Co. 2014 Sweet 16 State Champion 5 - Wayne Co. Tiebreaker - 137

Here's how it works....any coach that is a member of the KSCA can nominate juniors or seniors for the all-stars. All nominees are put on to four separate lists (East Sr., East Jr., West Sr., West Jr.) showing primary position or positions and any stats that their coach may have provided. Two committees are formed, one for the west and one for the east, consisting primarily of current coaches. The East committee meets to select the two East All-Star teams and the West committee meets to select the two West All-Star teams. During the meetings there is basically an open forum for discussion about players. Generally coaches will speak and promote not only their own players but also others in the region or others that they have seen play and feel are deserving. After the open discussions, the committee votes for the players. There are usually a couple of rounds of voting with the second round basically filling the last few spots based on position needs. The key to the whole process is for coaches to be a member of the KSCA so they can nominate their players. I'm not sure if a coach can nominate a player from another school or not, but I can tell you that it just doesn't happen. Everyone expects the coaches to nominate their own players. Joining the KSCA is very inexpensive and any coach that doesn't join is only doing a disservice to their own players.

I'm pretty certain this is Bracken's first win over Montgomery since they switched to fastpitch in 1995.

Watching the College World Series got me to thinking about former KY high school players that have made it to Oklahoma City. The only three I can think of are Mary Ratliff-Montgomery Co./Univ. of Florida, India Chiles-Ballard/Univ. of Tennessee, and Kirsten Allen-Ryle/Oklahoma Univ. Can anybody think of somebody I'm leaving out?

That is based on the second runner being obstructed between second and third by the shortstop. If they called obstruction on the first runner, then obviously they blew the call.

I just talked to an umpire that is rated number one in his association and has worked multimple state tournaments. He says they got the call correct.

I don't have a rule book with me, but I will look it up when I get home. I am 99% sure that it is not an automatic award of an extra base though. The rule only protects the runner from being called out. A smart base runner, and more importantly, a smart base coach will send the runner to the next base once he sees the umpire call obstruction because the runner cannot be called out at that point. If the runner safely returns to the previous base on her own, then there is nothing more for the umpire to call. She would have to make an attempt to reach the next base before an umpire could award her the next base.

Congrats to Coach Bretz, his staff, and the Lady Jackets! Best of luck at state!

This is a very interesting one. It isn't completely clear on the video, but it appears to me that the shortstop made a diving attempt at the batted ball that was hit back up the middle about the same time that the lead runner was heading to third. That being the case, I don't think the obstruction was called on the lead runner but must have been called on the runner that started the play on first. The big misconception about the obstruction rule is that the runner is automatically awarded another base if obstruction occurs. That is not the case. Obstruction only protects the runner from being called out. If the runner, after being obstructed, safely retruns to the PREVIOUS base on her own and no play is made on her, the play is over.....she is NOT awarded the next base because she made no attempt to reach the next base. If she makes an attempt to reach the next base but is thrown out AFTER being obstructed, then the umpire should award her the next base. In this case, according to the initial post, the second runner was obstructed by the shortstop between second and third base. That means that runner CANNOT be called out between second and third base. Once she is tagged out, it is up to the umpires judgement to determine if she should be awarded third or returned safely to second. If the umpire feels she would have reached third had the obstruction not occurred, then he should award her third....however, if he feels she WOULD NOT have safely reached third if the obstruction had not occurred, then he should put her back on second base. Since third base was occupied by the lead runner, then the second runner could not have reached third anyway, therefore they correctly returned her to second base. There is no reason that I can think of that they should have moved the lead runner up to score a run. Now what really complicates this situation is the fact that both runners occupied third base at the same time. Had this not occurred, I think the umps absolutely got the call right. However, I honestly don't know how the fact that both runners occupied third at the same time comes into play considering that obstruction had been called first. My gut feeling is that they still got the call right. Regardless, a very bizarre ending to a game, especially a regional championship game.

I'm not surprised that Nicholas was able to score some runs against Montgomery, but how on earth were they able to shut Montgomery out with all of their talent and experience?

The same could be said for Bourbon, Nicholas, and Mason. This thing is completely up for grabs at this point. This is the first time in the 18 year history of 10th region fastpitch softball that neither Montgomery Co. or Clark Co. are in the semi-finals of the 10th region tournament. Only once in 18 years have neither been in the championship game....Bishop Brossart beat Harrison Co. in the finals in 2002. None of the four remaining teams have ever won the region.

Not sure exactly when, but I believe it was sometime last week.

Montgomery starts five seniors and two juniors, they are not young at all. They did however, lose their top pitcher to an arm injury. I've been told that she is done for the year. Montgomery does have experience on their side. I think you can toss Montgomery, Harrison, and Bourbon in a hat and one of the three will emerge from the region. Bourbon appears to have the toughest road due to having to get past GRC in the district just to make the regional tournament. Threre are other teams capable of beating any of the top three....GRC, Nicholas, Bracken, or Brossart....but I don't think any of them are capable of winning three games in the regional tournament.

Anybody other than Ashland out of the 16th would be a major surprise to me.

Brookmede